Q. Am I in love? How do you know when you've crossed the boundary between liking and loving someone? What is the difference?
Shilpa
A. Shilpa, it's hard to talk about this boundary without using example and comparison. They don't give an exact picture, but they suggest and give you a sense of the reality.
If you say, "I love my dog," but look at an apartment that doesn't allow pets, you only liked the dog. Whoever said, "You can fall in love with a rich man as easily as a poor man," never loved. Whoever thinks love can be measured by a bathroom scale or diminished by age, never loved.
Love is like the answer to a riddle. Other answers may seem good or clever, but only this one answer is perfect.
Love is like the right job. The job inspires you and feels like play. You crave the work, you are passionate about it. It lifts you up and drives you to new levels.
Love is the color which connects with the deepest level of your being. It is the music which speaks to you.
When you love someone, you are totally yourself with them. Nothing can drive a wedge between you. Whatever life throws at you, you deal with together.
When you reach the boundary between like and love, you know you are entering another country. You are beyond newness and infatuation. You know what Shakespeare meant when he called love "an ever-fixed mark that looks on tempests and is never shaken."
Comments (9)
on: April 5, 2007 8:36 AM | Reply
Gr8..........so love is this
on: April 5, 2007 11:17 AM | Reply
Good answer.. I had never imagined that the owner of this blog (or whoever has given the answer) could be so creative!! Hats off to you!!
on: April 5, 2007 1:48 PM | Reply
hi, i am a regular visitor on ur website, kudos to u for maintaining all this, this is the first time i am writing anything here.
i never read any better definition of love/liking before. i think what u have replied to the question is just perfect and very focused and clear. it could not be better than this. regards.
on: April 5, 2007 9:45 PM | Reply
म्हारे भेजे में तो ये बात घुसी ही नहीं. पता नहीं क्या अनाप शनाप लिख डाला डाक्टरनी ने. म्हारे को तो लगे है कि ये डाक्टरनी भांग या चरस सुड़के है. पर गलती म्हारी ही दिक्खे है, ठहरे हरयाणवी जाट. म्हारा ताऊ तो कहे है 'लव' वो होवे जो झाड़ी के पीछे किया जावे और 'मोहब्बत' वो होवे जो दिल से किया जावे.
on: April 5, 2007 11:35 PM | Reply
I had read the translation of definition of love from our vedas. It goes something like this :
"When the happiness, sorrow and welfare of another being becomes as important, if not more, to you as your own happiness, sorrow and welfare, the feeling generated is called LOVE."
Anything short of it is not LOVE.
A little clinical but then I haven't been able to find any other definition that is as clear and accurate or comes even close. Any comments?
on: April 6, 2007 1:04 AM | Reply
heyy!! Thtz da perfect answer.I agree with you moderator...nnn Im gonna use your answer in one of my blog.. If you allow me.. LOL
on: April 7, 2007 12:10 AM | Reply
hi, i am a regular visitor to you blog/site & your answers to some of the queries have even cleared some of my confusions. i have started trusting your answers.
as far as this differentiation/definition of love/like ....is simply fantabulous, its great to know that whoever maintains this blog/site is really very intellectual n creative.
u rock man........u rock
Editor's Reply: Hi Rahul, thanks for the really kind words. You made my day!
on: April 9, 2007 12:10 AM | Reply
man.. tht was a real gr8 answer.... ppl reply to all kinda shit replies, scolding either the person who asked the question or the person who answered, but no one replies to GR8 answers such as this..
I am really impressed man, u put thought into words as if they were made for them... gr8....
on: April 19, 2007 2:05 AM | Reply
Shilpa, let us take a real life example. When my girfriend says she loves me but doesn't want to have sex with me, I know she only likes me.
When you say "I love you" to your boyfriend it means I not only like you but also ready to get physical with you.
For those who didn't get it:
If sex is involved it is love.
If sex is not involved it is like.