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Many of us have an armchair view of love. We create a fixed,
comfortable parameter for our feelings and sit back safely within these
self-imposed limits. We don't go to love, we expect it to come to us. We look
to novels, movies and television to bring us love, vicariously, content to be
passive observers. We are fearful of emotions that make demands on us, that
can possibly get out of hand.
Love is not known to thrive in such an atmosphere. Real lovers
do more than just seek the comfort of love, they strive to make it an art.
They are fully aware that this will require a continuous expanding of their
senses and sharpening of their perceptions in order to keep up with the
challenge of love.
Love is a vast canvas awaiting our artistic expression. The
work is never really completed, it's always a work in progress. But as with
all creative endeavors, as we labor, we are treated to a broader vision, a
keener insight, and the joy that comes mainly from the artistic process
itself, less concerned with critical judgement and the finished masterpiece.
Leo Buscaglia
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Love is so often sought, yet can become the root of the
greatest heartbreaks and heartaches of our lives. So strange, that the very
emotion that can open the deepest wellspring of joy and happiness can also
produce the deepest hurt and sorrows. It has been the source of great
rejoicing and devastating wars. No other emotion brings such varied responses
to our lives as love. Forever, whatever our age, whatever the generation or
culture, love will always remain our chief experience, eclipsing both
feelings of gratification and despair. Love and loving will always find
itself an empirical part of every stage of our lives.
At every turn, in every situation, every circumstance and in
the course of daily living, all of us must continuously make the conscious
decision, to what extent our love and loving must play its role. Love is one
of those few aspects of our lives that is not only innate capacity, but also
requires conscious decision. We may be inspired to love in a given situation.
We may be motivated by self-serving goals to love. We might be, encouraged by
some type of personal beneficial incentives to love.
However, love is never solely automatic, without decision and
springing from a completely saturated life of love. No, unfortunately, we are
not so equipped! Our humanity all too often gets into our way of always
exhibiting a loving nature to all, at all times. Joan & Jon Commings
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