Love...

I've loved two women in my life.

At the age of 48 I consider that not too bad. I don't throw the word around lightly as I know what it's like to love someone over a period of decades. I may not speak to my first love anymore (just the way it is sometimes) but I certainly still, and always will, love her. My most recent lover... that's another matter entirely. I've blogged about my experiences of late many a time, and will more than likely continue to do so as I'm sure she will remain the last woman I truly love.

You may/may not recall a single panel comic strip from a while back entitled Love is... Was in black/white and there was one panel that I still recall to this day. Love is... no fun without her. Which is pretty much where I stand right now with my last love. Currently we're only swapping messages on Wastebook (with thanks to Goddo frontman Greg Godovitz for the phrase). It is my hope that we reunite as best of friends and failing that, have a respectful goodbye. We each deserve that.

And I'm okay with that.

But, what is Love?

Wikipedia defines Love as "the emotion of strong affection and personal attachment". In my mind there's a whole heck of a lot more to love than simply that.

How about a dictionary definition from reference.com? The dictionary defines love as "a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person." Nope, that doesn't do it for me either.

Perhaps then Love is simply indescribable.

What I know is thus...

if you still love someone today, then it's love. If you no longer love them, you never did.
That's about the best I can do.

With that here's something I came across contained within an image file which I transcribed here.

Enjoy!

What is love?

Are your palms sweaty, is your heart racing, and is your voice caught within your chest? - It isn't love, it's like.

You can't keep your eyes or hands off of them, am I right?- It isn't love it's lust.

Are you proud and eager to show them off?- It isn't love, it's pride.

Do you want them because you know they're there?- It isn't love, it's loneliness.

Do you want them because it's what everyone wants?- It isn't love, it's loyalty.

Are you there because they kissed you or held your hand?- It isn't love, it's low confidence.

Do you stay for their confessions of love because you don't want to hurt them?- It isn't love, it's pity.

Do you belong to them because their sight makes your heart skp a beat?- It isn't love, it's infatuation.

Do you pardon their faults because you care about them?- It isn't love, it's friendship.

Do you tell them every day that they are the only one you think of?- It isn't love, it's a lie.

Are you willing to give all your favourite things for their sake?- It isn't love, it's charity.

Does your heart ache and break when they're sad?- Then it's love.

Do you cry for their pain, even when they're strong?- Then it's love.

Do their eyes see your true heart, and touch your soul so deeply it hurts?- Then it's love.

Do you stay because a blinding, incomprehensible mix of pain and relation pulls you close and holds you there?- Then it's love.

Do you accept their faults because they're a part of who they are?- Then it's love.

Are you attracted to others, but stay with them faithfully without regret?- Then it's love.

Would you give them your heart, your life... your death?

Think about that for a second...

There are images which fit this post which can be found under the heading Slideshows - Just Because, no, not here, along the left of this page. You can also look under the heading The Basics of daT - Quotations, for further reading.

I'll finish off by saying that I love my kids (now 21 and 19), but I classify that love as different than romantic love, which was the subject of this post.

'nuff said, for now.