Infatuation
is instant desire - one set of glands calling to another.
Love
is friendship that has caught fire. It takes root and grows,
one day at a time.
Infatuation
is marked by a feeling of insecurity. You are excited and
eager, but not genuinely happy. There are nagging doubts,
unanswered questions, little bits and pieces about your beloved
that you would just as soon not examine too closely. It might
spoil the dream.
Love
is the quiet understanding and mature acceptance of imperfection.
It is real. It gives you strength and grows beyond you - to
bolster your beloved. You are warmed by their presence, even
when they are away. Miles do not separate you. You have so
many wonderful little films in your head that you keep replaying.
But near or far, you know they are yours, and you can wait.
Infatuation
says, "We must get married right away. I can't risk losing
them."
Love
says, "Be patient. Don't panic. Plan your future with
confidence."
Infatuation
has an element of sexual excitement. Whenever you are together,
you hope it will end in intimacy.
Love
is not based on sex. It is the maturation of friendship, which
makes sex so much sweeter. You must be friends before you
can be lovers.
Infatuation
lacks confidence. When they're away, you wonder if they're
cheating. Sometimes, you check.
Love
means trust. You are calm, secure and unthreatened. They feel
your trust, and it makes them even more trustworthy.
Infatuation
might lead you to do things you will regret, but love never
steers you in the wrong direction.
Love
is an upper. It makes you feel whole. It completes the circle.
It fills the empty space in your heart. Love is elevating.
It lifts you up. It makes you look up. It makes you think
up. It makes you a better person than you were before. If
you have love in your life, it can make up for a great many
things you don't have. If there is no love in your life, whatever
else there is has a lot less meaning.
The
secret of our being is not only to live but to have something
to live for. |