Real Love

I am no expert at love and I will never pretend to be.  But I know a few basic things about love and who I love.  I love my family, number one, especially my daughter.  They are my lifeblood and the people I can also fall to when my life isn't going so well. 
There are some friends of mine whom I love.  Again - they are folks in my life that I know I can count on when things get tough.  They are important to me whether they realize it or not. 

But this isn't really about how to love people - we all love someone (unless you're a true psychopath but that's a whole area of psychology that I have neither the time nor the will to explore).  But do the people we love KNOW that we love them?  Do they KNOW how important it is when they call, just to see how you are doing?  Do we take the time to say things like "hey, you're really great and I love you."  Not because they just did something remarkable for us or because we want something from them...but just because we love them?  I try to let my daughter know, everyday, that I love her.  I especially tell her this when she's hopping out of the car for school: "I love you Sweetie...have a wonderful and fun day!" 

I know what I feel like when someone says they love me.  I feel LOVED.  But sometimes I think I disregard or forget to let people know that I love them. 

This weekend I shared a conversation with a friend who I don't get to speak with very often.  He's working and he works an odd job but he is an important person in my life who helped me to first open my eyes to....MYSELF...and to begin this long and difficult journey of self-love.  I love him.  Romantically?  Nah...well, I mean, I could, but I love him deeply in a way that doesn't require romantic love.  The love for him I share (and he says that it's mutual) isn't the kind of love that needs constant contact.  We are always there for each other.  The love we share isn't selfish - we want the other one to be happy, no matter how that happiness occurs.  I realize that I should open up my heart and love more people like that - that selfless, unconditional love.  But it's the kind of love that takes time to grow; time, respect, support, and life. 

How much do you love?  How much do you share your love with others?  Do you let people know what they mean to you?  How do you feel when someone says they love you - and would you care to share that feeling with others?  Do you reflect on love - who you love and who you'd like to love? 

Wow, how many times can I say love?  Seriously though, love is the thing, you know!