Dear Nancy
Dear Nancy,
Hello Confused About Love,
If you were to look up the dictionary definition of love, it may say something along the lines of a deep emotion towards someone or something. People communicate love in different ways - expressing love to someone could be giving your time and showing taking interest in someone’s life. Love to another person could be sharing your six piece chicken nugget meal. Nuggets are scarce, but love is forever. Love is also an adaptation of having a bond. Animals and humans can have a very close, personal connection that is unlike any other. In order to experience love, it is not necessary to have verbal communication. In many instances, just having your dog curled up next to you on the couch while watching a television show, or having your cat snuggled up with you in bed is their way of showing you that they care.
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Love towards family is an unspoken rule that is just expected of you. From the day that you are born, you are taught to say “I love you” to your parents, grandparents, and other relatives, but it’s never really earned. Later on in life, you can decide who you actually cherish and love, but from the beginning you are told that you must have loving feelings towards your family members. The feelings you have for friends is more of an unbreakable bond that some people would consider love. Friends are often considered the family that you choose for yourself. It is about being surrounded with a person, or a group of people, that you can be yourself around while feeling comfortable and safe.
Another form of love (which is probably what most people associate love with), is towards your partner in a relationship. In most cases, two people begin as friends and those feelings evolve into something deeper. Loving someone and actually being in love with someone are two separate things as well. You may love someone, which may entail feelings of deep attraction towards them and wanting to be around them 24/7. You can love many people at once, but being in love with someone is when you have a different emotion/feeling towards them, and one that you typically only feel towards one person. Sometimes people can be in love with multiple people at one time, example a polyamorous relationship.
Another form of love (which is probably what most people associate love with), is towards your partner in a relationship. In most cases, two people begin as friends and those feelings evolve into something deeper. Loving someone and actually being in love with someone are two separate things as well. You may love someone, which may entail feelings of deep attraction towards them and wanting to be around them 24/7. You can love many people at once, but being in love with someone is when you have a different emotion/feeling towards them, and one that you typically only feel towards one person. Sometimes people can be in love with multiple people at one time, example a polyamorous relationship.