"I love You"
What does it mean?
Three simple words. Eight letters, two spaces. Punctuation optional or variable, which affects meaning. And, no question, the meaning is variable.
When we are children, and use the words with parents, it means one thing. No, at least two things- the meaning the parent gives, the meaning the child responds with. Or four - the meaning intended, and the meaning heard. Part of the confusion of the meaning is that speaker and listener do not share the same meaning, always.
As children, we also learn that an "I love you" after a good report card means something different than the "I love you" after a vase is broken. And we learn early that the spontaneous "I love you" we first uttered as learned response, joyously, perhaps, can be a tool, a weapon, a trading card.
For adolescents, and then adults, the simple sentence gains even more nuance and subtle shades of meaning. Does it mean "I want to have sex with you", or "we had sex, it was great, let's do it again" or just "I need a date for the prom"?
With additional years, perhaps a few tears, even more depth is dug. "I love you" may mean "I want to spend the rest of my life with you" or " my biological clock is ticking" or "please don't leave me" or "I need a date to the office party".
At what stage does the cycle turn and we say it to our children as they said it to us? And as we age, does it become a sad final goodbye?
And of course, sometimes "I love you" is just "let's be friends", like on OS.
I love You.
(what does it mean to you?)
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Linda Seccaspina
Kat Hudson
Miranda Celeste Hale
Persephone13
Robin Sneed
Catherine Forsythe
Salon.com
Comments
I am glad to see you I thought you had disappeared..:(
Rated with hugs
If Puppy Love leads to a dogs life You can dress up in a Duh Man's Pincher.
Crabby.
Crab
Claw
and post-
divorced -
shave your
head as a monk
and bark and howl
and show your old
EX- wedding album.
Oh, OEsheepdog do.
No say "I do" o mule.
I say jest stay singles.
Sip honey brews too.
It's a mild beverage.
Pour in dog lap dish.
"I love you" ought to tumble out of our mouth, often unbidden, but always propelled by such a strong, compelling emotion that it just bursts out. It is the ultimate commitment to another.
Some one or two of those who have commented here seem to have a very good idea of what it means indeed; and how irrevocable it is, when it is true and honest and eternal.
.
what fine and inspiring thoughts - thank you all.
And Linda: not disappeared, just disaffected, mayhaps disenchanted.
I really liked your post.
I say it to my partner of 28 years everyday, he doesn't say it back but then I am way more demonstrative than him.
There was a time when I couldn't say it, like I was afraid to say it, maybe I am just reassuring myself with my utterances, He has told me numerous time He doesn't have to say the words, He knows it in His heart, that should be enough for all of us......Shouldn't it ??