Perhaps Love...

A friend forwarded me this email (so I can't give due credit to its original composer) a few years back - and while cleaning up my e-mail, I found it. I was glad that I kept it. It does hold truth in it.. allowing us to reflect on the misconceptions of the most mistakenly used word - love...

-----------------------------------------------------------

For all you people who say "I love you" when you have no clue what love is exactly, this is something to ponder upon..... Check it out. Some people really need to read this

Are your palms sweaty, is your heart racing and is your voice caught within your chest??
It isn't love, it's like.
You can't keep your eyes or hands off of them, am I right??
It isn't love, it's lust.
Are you proud, and eager to show them off??
It isn't love, it's luck.
Do you want them because you know they're there??
It isn't love, it's loneliness.
Are you there because it's what everyone wants??
It isn't love, it's loyalty.
Are you there because they kissed you, or held your hand??
It isn't love, it's low confidence.
Do you stay for their confessions of love, because you don't want to hurt them??
It isn't love, it's pity.
Do you belong to them because their sight makes your heart skip a beat??
It isn't love, its infatuation.
Do you pardon their faults because you care about them??
It isn't love, it's friendship.
Do you tell them every day they are the only one you think of??
It isn't love, it's a lie.
Are you willing to give all of your favorite things for their sake??
It isn't love, it's charity.

Does your heart ache and break when they're sad??
Then it's love.
Do you cry for their pain, even when they're strong??
Then it's love.
Do their eyes see your true heart, and touch your soul so deeply it hurts??
Then it's love.
Do you stay because a blinding, incomprehensible mix of pain and realization pulls you close and holds you there??
Then it's love.
Do you accept their faults because they're a part of who they are??
Then it's love.
Are you attracted to others, but stay with them faithfully without regret??
Then it's love.
Would you give them your heart, your life, your death??
Then it's love.

Now, if love is painful, and tortures us so, why do we love? Why is it all we search for in life? This pain, this agony? Why is it all we long for?

This torture, this powerful death of self? Why? The answer is so simple.. because it's...LOVE. It is such an addictive thing that even people who are do not have it wish to experience it and share it with others as well.

----------------------------------

It makes you think... doesn't it?