There have been some great posts in reponse to LL2's open call. Many thoughtful essays, poems and musings on romantic love or love of friends, children or other relatives. One need only look at my previous posts about Outside Myself and me to know that I have fallen, very happily and head first, into the deepest, sweetest end of the romantic love pool.

I have written a great many words in those previous posts about what love is to me, how it feels and how it has changed my life. Rather than repeat the sentiments of those posts here, I think I can boil it down to three important and (very) necessary points from which all other aspects of the great love we have stem:

TRUST:  Without it, the other two don't matter. We all know what trust is and how vitally important it is in any relationship. Bonds of the heart especially so. Can you be you and all that you are with your sweetheart? If so, do they love who you are? You've got to be able to be yourself or you won't be happy, at least not for very long. Be cautious because this is a big one. It takes time and patience. This is something I will say about all three of these points: pay attention. Truths will be revealed that will help you make this decision. How can you give someone your inner being; your soul, if you don't trust them to keep it safe? You can't. If you do, sooner or later you will pay the consequences in the coin of pain and heartache from which it is very difficult to recover.  Trust me on that.

RESPECT:  Related to trust, but important enough to stand on its own. And like trust, you've got to give it to get it. When you're in or contemplating a romantic relationship, this is more than pleases and thank yous. What's an important skill to have? You guessed it:  paying attention. For example: Do you listen when the object of your affection is talking to you? I mean really listen? Does this person listen to you? Respect, or lack thereof, is also shown in how you conduct yourself, even when not with your beloved. Do you like to go out and get into drunken bar fights? Think she digs seeing your name on the police call log in Monday paper? Maybe she does, but discussion on that type of relationship is outside the scope of this post. If you have any questions or when in doubt about respect, just listen to Aretha.

DEVOTION:   The third point of the love triad. If you've got the above two points covered, this is an easy one. You need to be devoted to your chosen chère. And you don't just need to be there for him or her, you will want badly to be there for them. Why? 'Cause it feels so damn good, that's why. I have found that there is no greater pleasure for me than that derived from creating happiness within the one I love. Devotion isn't blind following; it's making the effort  to understand your partner - and succeeding. If you can't, you've gotten lost along the way someplace and you'll have to go back and find out where. But please don't be so prosaic as to leave a trail of bread crumbs. It's tacky and messes up the carpet. Just pay attention (see?) and you should be fine.

  ~~~~~

I am the happiest I have ever been in the love I share with Outside Myself. I attribute that fact to her and the amazing person she is. It is because of who she is, and who I am, that all of these three most important aspects of true love are present and accounted for and form the foundation of our relationship. It is my wish that everyone have a love like she and I have.

If you don't already, get on that. It's fantastic.

~xoxoxo~