TrueLoveIs...
TrueLoveisCaring.TheancientGreekshadmanydifferentnamesfordifferentformsoflove:passion,virtuous,affectionforthefamily,desire,andgeneralaffection.Butnomatterhowloveisdefined,theyallholdacommontrait:caring.
TrueLoveisAttractive.Attractionandchemistryformthebondthatallowspeopletomate.Withoutthisromanticdesireforanotherindividual,arelationshipisnothingmorethanlustorinfatuation.
TrueLoveisAttached.Likethemother-childbond,attachmentcomesaftertheinitialattraction.Attachmentisthelongtermlovethatappearsanywherefromonetothreeyearsintoaromanticrelationship(sometimessoonerandveryrarelyafter),andyou'llknowyou'vefounditwhenyoucanhonestlysay,"I'veseentheworstandthebestyouhavetooffer,andIstillloveyou,"whileyourpartnerfeelsthesameway.
TrueLoveisCommited.Whenitcomestotruelove,commitmentismorethanjustmonogamy.Itstheknowledgethatyourpartnercaresforyouandhasyourback,nomatterwhatthecircumstances.Peoplewhoarestronglycommitedtooneanotherwill,whenfacedwithseeminglynegativeinformationabouttheirpartner,seeonlythepositive.Forexample,afriendcommentsthatyourpartnerdoesn'tsayalot."Ahyes,he'sthestrong,silenttype,"youreply.Peoplewithlesscommitmenttotheirpartnerwouldinsteadsaysomethinglike,"Yeah,Icanneverhaveconversationwithhim.Itsannoying."
TrueLoveisIntimate.Intimacyisacrucialcomponentofallrelationships,regardlessoftheirnature.Inordertoknowanother,youneedtosharepartsofyourself.Thisself-revealingbehavior,whenreciprocated,formsanemotionalbond.Overtimethisbondstrengthensandevenevolves,sothattwopeoplemergecloserandclosertogether.Intimacybyitselfifisagreatfriendship,butcompiledwiththeotherthingsinthislist,itformsanequationfortruelove.