Love, really

 

What is love, really?

According to one definition it is: a set of emotions and behaviors, characterized by intimacy, passion and commitment. 

By my age I have had a long time to think about love. I've also had many chances to experience it and all the ways it can go south. No one starts out loving thinking they will eventually hate each other, but I see that more often than not.

Why? Because our culture has set so many parameters that anyone beyond an angel (and I mean the kind with wings and a halo) is bound to fail. 

People demand romance and sacrifice, passion and purity, truthfulness without forgiveness, forgiveness without truthfulness and so on. 

Expectations include hearts and flowers, music,  wine, chocolates, maybe even dancing.  Fred Astaire would have trouble producing all of this nonstop for forty years and he had a whole set of directors, producers, professional dancers and actors to back him up.

Maybe love is just caring the best you can for as long as you can. It won't be perfect, nothing ever is, but it can be uniquely you and that is what matters.