What defines love????

Yes, we are strange human beings.

 

Plenty of times.
You make a lot of friends by just showing that you care and respect them.

 

Is that love?
I know you love Gizmo. x

 

I love my dog.

 

Is love dependant on commitment?
Can love exist without sexual encounters?
Does love flourish in arranged marriages?
So many questions.

Love is dependant on commitment. Otherwise, it is one-sided.
Yes, love can exist without sex. In some cases.
No idea about arranged marriages, only what I have read or seen on TV.[/QUOTE]


For centuries, arranged marriages were quite normal, even if they weren't appreciated by the active participants. If a girl was fortunate, her parents were looking out for HER interests, rather than their own. If not, nightmarish relationships could result, just as they do today. Sometimes an awkward relationship could evolve into mutual respect, admiration, and even lasting love and romance.

For an interesting look at two different relationshlps and their foundations, look at the biblical story of Jacob and his two wives, Rachel and Leah. Rachel was loved, while Leah was hated. He loved and worked 7 years for Rachel, only to wake up with her older sister Leah after their honeymoon night, due to the sisters' and their father's deception. Then he had to work an additional 7 years for Rachel, despite having already done so. Rachel walked in Jacob's love, but Leah spent their entire married life trying to earn his love. Jacob loved Rachel from the moment he first saw her, but he tolerated Leah as an unwanted and unloved duty and responsibility he was stuck with. This story also mirrors something I call "wearing a mask". That is, a woman pretends to be whatever it takes to get a man, only to spend a lifetime feeling unloved and unsatisfied because of her own deception. It's a classic tale of "bait and switch", which is an abomination to every man. Such women usually try to change the man into what they WISH he was, instead of accepting who and what he really is and appreciating him for it. This is precisely what destroyed my own first marriage, and she went on to do the same thing with every man she has met since. She is now in her upper-60s, alone, and childless, all because of her stubborn refusal to be honest with the men she chooses.

Back in the early 80's a girlfriend and her friends whined to me about men and their alleged fear of commitment. I laughed at them. Men, I told them, were NEVER afraid of commitment. We are, however, terrified of and revolted by "bait and switch". Whatever you do to get a man, you must also continue to do if you intend to keep him. The moment that mask slips off, your life and relationship as you knew it is over. A guy subjected to this kind of contempt will hate your guts forever. And you wll keep destroying your relationships until you learn to be yourself and pursue the man who loves the real you instead of the mask you wear. The real "you" is always better than a fake "someone else". Honesty truly is the best policy, and you don't have to keep track of the lies you told.

 

YOU have loved before also. I love you and Apollo. xxxx

 

And we love you too!

 

For centuries, arranged marriages were quite normal, even if they weren't appreciated by the active participants. If a girl was fortunate, her parents were looking out for HER interests, rather than their own. If not, nightmarish relationships could result, just as they do today. Sometimes an awkward relationship could evolve into mutual respect, admiration, and even lasting love and romance.

For an interesting look at two different relationshlps and their foundations, look at the biblical story of Jacob and his two wives, Rachel and Leah. Rachel was loved, while Leah was hated. He loved and worked 7 years for Rachel, only to wake up with her older sister Leah after their honeymoon night, due to the sisters' and their father's deception. Then he had to work an additional 7 years for Rachel, despite having already done so. Rachel walked in Jacob's love, but Leah spent their entire married life trying to earn his love. Jacob loved Rachel from the moment he first saw her, but he tolerated Leah as an unwanted and unloved duty and responsibility he was stuck with. This story also mirrors something I call "wearing a mask". That is, a woman pretends to be whatever it takes to get a man, only to spend a lifetime feeling unloved and unsatisfied because of her own deception. It's a classic tale of "bait and switch", which is an abomination to every man. Such women usually try to change the man into what they WISH he was, instead of accepting who and what he really is and appreciating him for it. This is precisely what destroyed my own first marriage, and she went on to do the same thing with every man she has met since. She is now in her upper-60s, alone, and childless, all because of her stubborn refusal to be honest with the men she chooses.

Back in the early 80's a girlfriend and her friends whined to me about men and their alleged fear of commitment. I laughed at them. Men, I told them, were NEVER afraid of commitment. We are, however, terrified of and revolted by "bait and switch". Whatever you do to get a man, you must also continue to do if you intend to keep him. The moment that mask slips off, your life and relationship as you knew it is over. A guy subjected to this kind of contempt will hate your guts forever. And you wll keep destroying your relationships until you learn to be yourself and pursue the man who loves the real you instead of the mask you wear. The real "you" is always better than a fake "someone else". Honesty truly is the best policy, and you don't have to keep track of the lies you told.[/QUOTE]


What an informative and heartfelt post.
You know about love, you know how to love.
Thank you for putting some of the explanations into perspective.
Love in a relationship needs to adapt and allow for changes, for better or for worse are the commitments.
I took mine seriously.

 

Hmmm....somehow that didn't quote the way I wanted it to....

 

Did he?

 

Not sure as to what you are trying to say here in response. Sometimes you lose me.

Am grateful you answered the questions. Interesting.

 

Love is impossible to describe sometimes.

 

Love is when you give someone your last Rolo

 

Aww that too. X

 

I never asked you to describe it. Your response to me is very evasive.

 

What do you want me to say?

 

Not a matter of wanting but i do prefer a direct responds.

 

Ask me specifics.

 

Just look back. The only direct responds was when you answered your own questions.