Some Of My Thoughts

"That's sweet."

"How is that sweet?"
"To be that certain, to feel that much love."
"Love, isn't a feeling..."
"No? "
"It's an ability."

Michael and I watched Dan in Real Life recently, and that quote stuck out to me more this time, then it did the first time I saw the movie.

I've experienced that intoxicating feeling before, only in a less dramatic way than Dan's daughter did in this movie. I'm pretty sure every girl has at some point between, or all during, middle school, junior high and high school.

Infatuation means foolish or all-absorbing passion, suspicious eagerness, unreasoning or extravagant short-lived passion.
In this generation, in many ways, I think infatuation has become a model for what love really is. Which is not at all good, or healthy.

I remember hearing or reading somewhere about a man who was telling a therapist that he didn't love his wife anymore. The therapist replied "love her".

"But I don't love her anymore... the passion is gone..."

"Love her"

"But I'm not in love... it's just not working"

"Love her."

The therapist explained that instead of wandering around in a daze, wondering where his love went, he needed to realize that love isn't just a butterfly you catch with a net or a bubble that you float in... it's something you do. Something you give. And that when you give love to someone... when you behave in a loving way and focus on being loving instead of receiving love, it will naturally make you fall in love all over again.

I am so blessed and grateful to be able to experience real love. The kind of love that consists of butterflies, attraction and all of the little special moments, yet there is also so much more; it is filled with laughter, silliness, commitment, open and honest communication as well as hard work. Love is sincerely putting another before yourself, simply because you want to help them be the happiest they can be.

In hard times, and in years to come, what it comes down to is that you're with your best friend, you're true other half. And I think that when you treat each other with respect, kindness, remembering to do the "little things," (because when you stop doing the little tings, eventually you stop doing the big things) I think the honeymoon feeling never has to fade.

I think these quotes accurately describe what it is I'm trying to put in words:

"Love is not affectionate feeling, but a steady wish for the loved person's ultimate good as far as can be obtained" -C.S. Lewis

Love is being unselfish

"Love does not consist in gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction" -Antoine De Saint-Exupery

Love is growing together, in the same direction.

These are my thoughts, and this is the way I see it :-)
I'd love to hear all of your opinions and thoughts as well.
I hope this blog finds you all well and happy. Have a great day!

ps. The first picture is Michael and I being goofy and shaking our faces as the camera took a picture.