For me, love is defined by three characteristics: the first is respect, the basis of love for me; the second is comfort, which is how feel about someone in a physical situation; and finally, there is trust, how comfortable I am with a someone personally. See I had a discussion with a friend that brought up the subject, and for her, to be in love required most of what I consider love, granted sexuality is a must. So now, after this discussion, I find myself evaluating everyone's possible perception of love, based on this new found perception of love...well new to me that is. For me, love & lust are two independent pieces of an equation; and lust isn't really a word I use often. The closet thing to Lust for me is "like".
I use the word like only in two instances
- The level of interest in an aqauintence
- My sexually interest in a person(Usually used when in an awkward situation)
Plus I also use the more general definitions of the word like.
Now, I know that you're probably demanding that I get the point; well, do to my fairly broad concept of love, I have experienced that it does not match very well with idea of others. So, I have lately gotten slightly more stress than usually; been accused of using girls, which is something I find both appalling & upsetting; as well as finally having a normally positive & clean perception of the world, tarnished to an extent.
I will probably wake up tomorrow with a smile on my face, and preform the mundane and monotonous task that life demands of me with the optimism of a young hopeful child. But gosh gee oh my golly, it is pain to have people you love attempting to get you to...change I guess. Look, I am aware that there are some horrible things that have, are, and will be happening; at any point in the world, and at any time. But I never wanted to become my mother, a woman who is afraid of the world around her; or my father, a man who thinks of everyone as some sort of deviant beings who's intent is to ruin you.
Those ideas are the ideas are reject on a daily basis, and it is a little difficult to hold your ground; especially when seem to be the only one you know who thinks that particular way. I love my family though, and I know and continue to get to know alot people at school; I just don't like that people I thought I had gone over this discussion with, misinterpret the way I conduct my life.
I did not goto a public school system until this year!
I am really not quite clear on how things work. For crying out loud, every close friend is like an extension of family rather than some guy or gal I know. So I'm sorry if my view isn't normal, but I can't help it. I was brought up with a strong emphasis on family; ironically though, my blood family seems to give off this "Obligated Love", and that really isn't making me feel better about anything. Atleast with my friends, I know I earned that loved; I know that I am a truly likable person, and not just said to be one.
Eh, but hell, to ramble on anymore will be to bore anyone reading to tears. So to you, I ask the Question, if your still reading up until this point, can you tell me how you define love?