What is your interpretation of love?

[missqwerty]

I was discussing with my friends how each of us define love in a relationship and each of us had a different experience of it. How would you define it?

One of my friends believes it's the euphoric butterflies and excitement you feel at the begining, this friend tends to have a new OH every 6 months due to this.

For me it started out with the usual infatuation, but grew into a knowing that I never want to be without him and a sense that he's a keeper, the one as many would say . Years down the line we still have excitement and lust but it ebbs and flows. There are also times I think he's bloody amazing, times he drives me insane too!

So what is it that makes you recognise love?

Ooh interesting!

I haven't ever loved. It will be interesting to read what others say.

For me it is a mutual feeling of respect, desire, belief and trust.

^^^

Sounds quite cheesy!

This song by the weakerthans defines the love I have for my DH. The fleeting years of appreciation of his existence. Where did 12 years go?

How I don't know how to sing
I can barely play this thing
But you never seem to mind
And you tell me to fuck off
When I need somebody to
How you make me laugh so hard
How whole years refuse to stay
Where we told them to, bad dog
Locked up whining in a word
Or a misplaced souvenier
How the past chews on your shoes
And these memories lick my ear

I know
You might roll your eyes at this
But I'm so
Glad that you exist

How we waste our precious time
Marching in the picket lines
That surround those striking hearts
How the time is never now
And we know who we should love
But we're never certain how

I know
You might roll your eyes at this
But I'm so
Glad that you exist

I read this the other day and thought i was awesome.... (pic attached)

This. Quote from Captain Corelli's Mandonlin:

“Love is a temporary madness. It erupts like an earthquake and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have become so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion. That is just being "in love" which any of us can convince ourselves we are. Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident. Your mother and I had it, we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two.”
? Louis de Bernières, Captain Corelli's Mandolin

To me, love is mutual respect, shared history and not being able to imagine everyday life without them.

From a totally personal perspective, it is also making sure that your son's funeral is perfect and getting stressed about coffin handles not being right. My partner is his step dad and watching him worry about those things told me a million times over how much he loves us.