- Nov 19, 2001
- 27,727
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Some thoughts that came to me recently.
I think many people have a misconception of what love is, and that leads to dissapointment in their relationships. What's their mistake? They think love is an emotion.
My understanding and belief is that true love is how the emotion causes us to act, not the emotion itself.
Let me give an example. Pain. What is pain? Sure, it's an emotional reaction, but what is the reason for pain? It's so that we react to lessen it and thereby act in a way that is healthier to our bodies. If I stick my finger in a fire, it hurts, so I pull it out. The essence of the emotion is the action it causes. It's the way we are programmed. I think it's the same thing with love.
What does love cause? Several things, including a willingness to overlook faults, a sense of loyalty and an unyielding commitment. IMO, if that is not there, then it is not true love. But it will not appear magically, it takes work, sometimes years of work. But when you get there you then experience true love.
I have not yet experienced true love, but this is how I understand it. Hopefully I'll get there someday.
Just to illustrate the point, here's a story I recently read somewhere.
A 90-year old man needed to take a blood test. He had an appointment at 8:30 am at the doctor's office.
The office is running a little late, and the old man is getting antsy, constantly glancing at his watch. The nurse notices this and can't help wondering to herself what kind of a rush a 90-year old man can be in. At 8:50 he finally stands up and tells the nurse that he had an 8:30 appointment. The nurse sees how riled up he is and calls him in for his test.
When he gets in there she asks his "What's the big rush"?
He answers "every day at 9:30 I have breakfast with my wife".
"I didn't know you had a wife. Why is she not here with you?"
"She's in a nursing home. Everyday I take the bus there and have breakfast with her."
"Wow, she must really love you".
"Actually, she has no idea who I am. She not really aware of anything anymore."
"So why the big rush? She doesn't remember you anyway."
The old man shook his head slowly.
"No, she doesn't. But I remember her."
That my friends, is love. The commitment and loyalty. That's what it's all about. Even when she is unable to share in the emotion of love, it's what the emotion causes him to do. That's what makes the world go round.
Now let me go find my mancard, it was right here somewhere...
I think many people have a misconception of what love is, and that leads to dissapointment in their relationships. What's their mistake? They think love is an emotion.
My understanding and belief is that true love is how the emotion causes us to act, not the emotion itself.
Let me give an example. Pain. What is pain? Sure, it's an emotional reaction, but what is the reason for pain? It's so that we react to lessen it and thereby act in a way that is healthier to our bodies. If I stick my finger in a fire, it hurts, so I pull it out. The essence of the emotion is the action it causes. It's the way we are programmed. I think it's the same thing with love.
What does love cause? Several things, including a willingness to overlook faults, a sense of loyalty and an unyielding commitment. IMO, if that is not there, then it is not true love. But it will not appear magically, it takes work, sometimes years of work. But when you get there you then experience true love.
I have not yet experienced true love, but this is how I understand it. Hopefully I'll get there someday.
Just to illustrate the point, here's a story I recently read somewhere.
A 90-year old man needed to take a blood test. He had an appointment at 8:30 am at the doctor's office.
The office is running a little late, and the old man is getting antsy, constantly glancing at his watch. The nurse notices this and can't help wondering to herself what kind of a rush a 90-year old man can be in. At 8:50 he finally stands up and tells the nurse that he had an 8:30 appointment. The nurse sees how riled up he is and calls him in for his test.
When he gets in there she asks his "What's the big rush"?
He answers "every day at 9:30 I have breakfast with my wife".
"I didn't know you had a wife. Why is she not here with you?"
"She's in a nursing home. Everyday I take the bus there and have breakfast with her."
"Wow, she must really love you".
"Actually, she has no idea who I am. She not really aware of anything anymore."
"So why the big rush? She doesn't remember you anyway."
The old man shook his head slowly.
"No, she doesn't. But I remember her."
That my friends, is love. The commitment and loyalty. That's what it's all about. Even when she is unable to share in the emotion of love, it's what the emotion causes him to do. That's what makes the world go round.
Now let me go find my mancard, it was right here somewhere...
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