I’d “love” to read your definitions of love

Ok so I found out that love was my primary requirement in a relationship. But just what is love anyway? It is a slippery little sucker really. I looked up various definitions and they vary quite a lot. So I decided to define for myself what I consider love to be. After all, that is the only definition that really matters to me. So how did I define love? I spent a long time on this before refining it down to the following characteristics. This doesn’t include that mysterious, indefinable something that love really is - but I know that when I feel it. I was more inclined to come up with almost a list of behaviors that I can measure future experiences against:

* Connection - soul, mind, heart, body, interdependence
* Understanding - empathy, compassion
* Acceptance - non judgmental, freedom to be self
* Wanting what is best for the other

There are other things I want in a relationship such as commitment, intimacy and passion, but to me they are separate entities and not part of love itself. You can have all without love and you can love without any.

I believe I have experienced giving love in the above way but haven’t as yet received it. In a relationship context it has to be two way for me - it isn’t enough for one to love in the above manner and the other not. If both love as above, then both will get their needs respected and met where possible. I stress that this applies to my life only, I wouldn’t want to be seen to be giving a definitive account. After all everyone is different, each couple is different. You may read the above definition and go, nup, not what I have or want at all. But, for now, this is what I am on the lookout for.

I’d “love” to read your definitions of love. How does love manifest in your life? What are the qualities and characteristics you have or want?