What is love to you?

[Sharkirasharkira]

Was talking to new bf the other day about what ‘love’ is to different people, or how it can be different things with different partners. For me though, one thing sticks out that is the same with all the people that I know I truly loved: When I care about their feelings/wants/desires as much (or more, depending on the circumstances) as I do my own, that’s when I know I really love someone. That, and when someone will go out of their way to show you, through even small gestures, that they love you and not just say it.

So, what is love to you?

I used to think it was all the stereotypes ie feeling Gaga about a person, thinking about them all the time etc but I don’t feel that way anymore. To me now real love is feeling distressed by their hurts and pain and genuine happiness about their joys.

I’ve been thinking about this a lot recently as someone close to me told me they loved me and I’ve no idea if it’s romantic or platonic and would like to know.

I believe you never love the same way twice.
You never love someone the same way as another.
The notion of being 'in love', is those initial stages of the heart skipping a beat, the stomach dropping, having someone constantly on your mind. But also the term of romantic love. As a posed to the love for a parent, friend or child.
How I've come to realise what was 'real love' and not infatuation, is that I have genuinely cared about the happiness of the other person. Over my own.
That's how I've known.
And also, it is never convenient. It comes out of the blue, when you're not looking, with least expected person.

Loyalty

Trust

Intimacy (sexual where appropriate!)

This is interesting because I have no idea!

I know I've never been loved and I think I've possibly only ever loved one, maybe two, people aside from my children.

Hmm interesting, basically a similar thing to me for most of you! I think it is a little difficult to know exactly what it is sometimes, especially if you haven't felt it before. It's a bit of an abstract concept.

Agree that you never love the same way twice - I've been in love 3 times, my first love, the father of my children and my most recent ex. I didn't love any of them the same way!