This blog is on romantic love.

I realized the other day that as often as the word is used, including here in this blog,

rarely is love, particularly the romantic type defined.

And I think that's a mistake.

I think too often we rest heavily on love as a feeling without taking time to think about

what else love really entails.

Feeling love is, of course course wonderful, but too often love

gets a free pass from introspection, a mistake that can cause problems in your life if you're

not careful. Love is something that I've given much thought to. I strongly encourage you to do the

same. Love is reciprocity. It is of course being loved in return for your love that's true but it is much

more than that what i mean here is that love is a constant exchange is an exchange of effort and

energy an exchange of time and resources and attention love is this joyful wild back forth. Love is not real love if it only takes,

nor is it real love if it only provides. Love desires as it is desired, love gleefully and gracefully

dances in the space of that exchange, taking root not in the soil of self-interest or the shifting

sand of altruism, instead love exists between the two, delighting in the acceptance of affection

as much as it receives joy by offering the same. Love is gratitude. Love cannot help but be

grateful because love knows that it is rare. Love appreciates and recognizes

and welcomes this rarity. Knows that to be found and seen is the greatest joy imaginable

and celebrates the efforts and the actions of the beloved. Love knows that nothing is owed to

us and takes nothing for granted. Love is a commitment. Love knows that nothing is owed to us and takes nothing for granted. Love is a commitment.

Love chooses its path and is not fickle. Love allows us to rest easy, knowing that it is not

swayed by the capricious winds of fate, but rather is steadfast and stalwart, holding itself proudly

...