What is love?

Love has always been a complicated word to define, this is why everyone has different meanings of the word. Life is no fairytale, as a result I have come across people in life who have the meaning of “love” completely twisted. For example, some husbands and wives cheat on their spouse, go back home to them, and act as though they’ve been faithful. How could this possibly be love? Some will say that it is love because the married spouse does not completely leave their partner for someone else. I’ve never understood this philosophy. I would rather for my significant other to be truthful to me than to look me in my eyes and lie to me. Better yet, I’m the type of woman who prefers a man to be up front and tell me that he’s interested in someone else, so that he can be on his merry way out of my life! Even though it may hurt, I will eventually get over it and respect that he was honest.

My definition of love is simply loyalty, patience, kindness and forgiveness. I haven’t been in many relationships but I sure have learned a lot from the relationships I’ve been in. The most important thing I’ve learned is that two people who do not share the same definition of love, will have a difficult time keeping the relationship alive. There are no two people who are exactly the same but in order to be compatible they have to value eachother the same. By value I mean being appreciative of eachother’s time and considerate of eachother’s feelings. Love does not brag and is not boastful, thus there’s no room for pride in the presence of true love. When someone loves you they will set aside their pride for the greater good of the relationship. If they are not mature enough to let go of their pride or be willing to compromise, they will allow pride to destroy the relationship. Pride is poisonous and will kill any relationship no matter how well things were at the beginning, however when real love is present a person will apologize to make amends because they value the relationship more than losing love.

​Love gives without looking for anything in return, because the giving comes from the heart. Although you may buy your partner nice things, it’s important to know the act of love is completely free. It doesn’t cost you a dime, because loyalty, patience, kindness and forgiveness are all valuable qualities that cannot be bought. I’ve seen so many women in bad situations because they are with men who try to buy their love and affection and then look for them to play wife in return without a ring. Women stay in these toxic relationships because they eventually associate love with the dollar bill, but it isn’t love if he buys you things and then talks to you in a way that makes you feel bad or even puts his hands on you when he gets ready. It may be his definition of love, but when a person makes you feel bad emotionally and or physically then you know that type of love is not for you. Love is supposed to uplift, and not tear down. Always remember that to properly love someone else you have to love yourself first. When you love yourself, you will know who to love and how to love. And when that true love comes around, it will survive the test of time.
 
I hope this blesses someone…until next time loves xoxoxo!
 
-Trish.

---