Love at first sight is an emotional condition whereby a person feels romantic attraction for a stranger on the first encounter with the stranger. The term may be used to refer to a meresexual attraction or crush, but it usually refers to actually falling in love with someone literally the very first time one sees him or her, along with the deep desire to have an intimate relationship with that person. (Wikipedia)
This usually happens when two people are both attracted to each other at the time they first met. There is an instant connection that pulls them together and later on discover if their chemistry works. Not all cases of 'love at first sight' succeed. Some people still go for a relationship that is deeply rooted or a relationship that starts with friendship. Very few take the risks of giving it a chance. Some would go for it just for the sake of having a relationship, having in mind that they will not take it seriously. While some find it challenging and if fortune strikes, a very wonderful love relationship blooms out of that instant appeal.
Falling in love at first sight is nothing compared to the miracle of having that ‘first-sight’ maintained through the years. The problem is when that ‘instant attraction’ becomes a ‘sudden destruction’. Just like what Socrates said, the hottest love has the coldest end.
"Love at first sight is easy to understand; it is when two people have been looking at each other for a lifetime that it becomes a miracle."
I always believe that everyday is a once in a lifetime experience. We often take for granted the things we can do today to show and express our love for someone. Presence is very important but it is not the only point where love grows. While the feeling of being in-love is very important, it is how you express it that really matters. Sharing the best of what we have and who we are to the person we love play a major role in establishing and making a relationship work. I wonder how about those who are in a long-distance relationship?
So Far Away…
I have also experienced ‘long-distance’ relationship before. I have no difficulty with that, honestly. Only that I just missed the person but all the rest was just like the same as having your love ones near you.
What makes a long-distance relationship works is an effective and constant communication. Without it, the relationship dies. Even with proximal relationships, communication plays a very vital role. What makes it different is that couples will have to work extra hard to maintain that communication.
Trust is a major necessity. You have to trust each other and avoid jealousy as much as possible. It is a time wasted! Instead, enjoy and value each time you got in expressing your thoughts and planning for the future. It is important to stay positive (though it is easier said than done). Always assume that your partner loves and cares about you.
Long distance relationship requires a ‘joint effort’ in order to survive it. Just like in all other relationships, both couples need a strong foundation of faith, trust, and love. It involves two people who share an interest in each other's lives, care for one another and of course have a love for each other that they hope will only continue to grow.
Surviving a long-distance relationship is a very challenging call and difficult, but not impossible!
“The most painful love there is, is the love left unshown A love that cannot be expressed, affection left unknown The love that withholds touching, afraid of what it would say And the most painful thing about unexpressed love is... it never fades away” --Susan Polis Schutz
“You’ll start having more of what you love when you start loving what you have.” -James Arthur Ray
- that includes your relationship...
Cultivating a relationship is not easy. Most of the times, relationships start from physical attraction and very few are able to sustain that attraction over a period of time. After being attracted, physically, what comes after is the discovery of what lies within. And 99% of relationships succeed given the right attitude and emotion more than just physical attraction.
"The basis of any courtship, date or relationship is basic physical attraction. If you are not attracted to someone and they are not attracted to you, you have just become friends. Whatever happens afterwards, it is likely to stay that way. You both must be physically attracted on some level to make things work. Yes, spiritual attraction, deep respect and friendship all do play a part in the longer term but in the first few minutes of meeting we instantly recognize whether there is an attraction and chemistry present between us." (Top Dating Tips)
Appreciation of oneself is very important before he/she can appreciates his/her partner. Having self-confidence, trust, and especially love to yourself is the most fundamental strength of a relationship. As what the saying goes... you can not give what you don't have. Just the same as you can't give love if you don't have it.
"If the development of personal power is the first golden key to psychological and spiritual health, then unconditional self love is most definitely the second golden key.
Personal power and self love are the building blocks of a healthy self concept and self image. The most important relationship in a person’s life is his relationship to himself. If we are wrong with ourselves, we will be wrong with all other relationships. If we are off center in ourselves, how can we be on center with others?" (I am University)
Most importantly is our spiritual outlook when it comes to love. Most often, this aspect is being neglected by most couples. God's two greatest commandments are: to love God above all and love our neighbors as much as we love ourselves. So, God wants us to love ourselves; to take care of ourselves; and to value the life He has given us. By loving ourselves, we are capable of sharing that love with our neighbors as well!
"You can determine where you are on your spiritual path by seeing how much you love your neighbor and how much you are loving yourself. We also need to learn to allow ourselves to feel God’s love. God’s love is like the sun. It is always shining. It is just a matter of whether we are going to give ourselves permission to receive it. One of my favorite metaphors is that we are diamonds with mud on us. God created us so we are diamonds. Our faulty egotistical negative thinking has put mud on us. I am trying in this book to get out the hose and wash off the illusions of faulty thinking and show you the "real you". Your true identity is the Christ, the perfect creation of God. It is only the ego’s false, negative, pessimistic interpretation of you that makes you feel unworthy or unlovable." (I am University) So for lovers out there, be sure to give genuine love and before you give it... be sure you have one!
When we honestly ask which persons in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving much advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a gentle and tender hand.
The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief or bereavement, who can tolerate not-knowing, not-curing, not-healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness. . . makes it clear that whatever happens in the external world, being present to each other is what really matters.
Just want to share this very nice article which I read over the net... something to reflect about.
One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, “My son, the battle is between two “wolves” inside us all.
One is evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.
The other is good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.”
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, “Which wolf wins?” The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.”
What the world needs now is love! Love begets loveis a famous saying and I truly believe in this! From the word 'beget' which means 'to cause'... so, love causes love; give and you shall recieve. It doesn't always comes from the ones we love, it may come from others whom we don't expect to love us.
If you want Love, you must first Love. Love begets Love. You cannot deliver from an empty wagon. You must first learn to Love yourself before you can give Love.
We find so many definitions of love and actually we can also have our own definition out of our experiences. We can best define love if we have experienced love. Let's look into some definitions of love...
“Some say it's mysterious, magical, complex, difficult, imaginary, thought-provoking, inspirational, intuitional, joyous, immeasurable, ecstasy, and undefinable. Perhaps.”
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” - 1 Corinthians 13:5-7
"To describe love is very difficult, for the same reason that words cannot fully describe the flavor of an orange. You have to taste the fruit to know its flavor, so with love."
“Love is the ability and willingness to allow those you care for to be what they choose for themselves, without any insistence that they satisfy you.” - Leo Buscaglia
“Love must be experienced. Its meaning is infinite and can never be totally defined.”
“Love is embracing differences and discovering ways in which to build a common lifestyle, share decision-making, and taking equal responsibility for the results.”
What is Love?
by Dr. Vijai S. Shankar
One must understand whether "what is love" can be a question which can be answered? Love cannot be a question. For, if it is a question then an answer should be there. If the answer is there, where is it? This question is ancient and an answer should have been found by now! If the answer has been found, the question would have disappeared.
But the question still remains, meaning the answer has not been found. If it has not been found as yet, then what is the certainty that it will be found? Maybe the mind can never find the answer! A single answer, which will please all minds, is not possible for each mind has its own ideas of love. Hence a universal answer is an illusion.
Individual answers are there for love and for this very reason there are arguments about love for each mind will contradict the answer of another mind. This contradiction is normal for each mind lives in a different point in time. Hence "what is love" is an illusionary question, which has no answer!
Thursday, June 12, 2008
No doubt, Donna Summers is definitely the disco queen! I love all her songs... she's amazingly great!
I love being a woman just the same as men love to be men. It is not about comparing women from men or knowing who is more superior between them. I guess, more then the physical qualities, it is the character that makes a woman distinct from men.
Currently, I am reading an inspirational book entitled Let Me Be A Woman by Elisabeth Elliot. I read “The fact that I am a woman doesn’t make me a different kind of Christian; but the fact that I am a Christian makes me a different kind of woman.” It leaves me a remarkable impression of how being a spirit-controlled woman can really make a difference. The book tells of how women cope with the changing times and how she copes well with endurance and faith. It tells of the essence of womanhood.
It is how our society looks on women. Over the years, women struggle to fight for their rights and status. It originated from the oldest times when women were treated less. Today, women are recognized and valued much better than before.
I always tell myself how blessed I am to be woman! I always believe that women are emotionally stronger than men (men might disagree with me hehe), but it is scientifically true. Women being right brained (most of the times) and have more developed instincts and emotions than left-brained men, who are more consistent and logical. But again, it is not about comparing the two genders, rather high lighting women’s traits and characters that are distinct from any other forms of God’s being. One distinction of a woman is “the willingness to enter into suffering, to receive, to carry, to give life, to nurture and to care for others.”
Understanding "Us"
Understanding women is the same as understanding men, only that it requires more sensitivity and fragility. While men are consistent most of the times, women are unpredictable. The ability to cope up in different situations, in different manners, at different given times is one of woman’s best talents. A man once told me how my moods shift too fast that he couldn’t catch up with what I am up to. Imagine, he noticed how my mood shifts without me noticing it. For women, it is possible and it is normal for as far as her hormone is concerned. Understanding women requires a great deal of perseverance that is in turn rewarded with a woman’s sincere love and affection.
The unpredictable she is what makes her a strong character of our today’s society. She can be a mother, a father, a sister, a friend, and even a worst enemy. She can love and get hurt over and over again and at the end, ends up still loving with the same amount of compassion. The unpredictable she can face trials and life’s situation with courage and boldness and face them with a heart that loves and cares.
What a woman deserves? She deserves to be treated with respect and authentic love. A woman may demand attention and time as much as she demands for enough space to move and grow or just be her self. A woman may act as “jack of all traits” but demands to be loved and treated as she (she deserves it!).
Man Alone
Does one can live without the other? I believe not, the mere fact that women are created by God for a purpose. Women, either career-oriented or plain house wives, are called for a purpose… and that is to serve. Women are called to serve God above all, her parents, husband, and children. Women are called to serve the society in her utmost abilities and capacity. Women are called to serve in order men would carry out their roles and functions even much better and more effectively… it’s a symbiotic relationship, a relationship that exists for all forms of life. One doesn’t exist alone. It takes parts in order to be whole.
The song said it all... I heard this song while playing mp3 and left an impressive question in my mind. What if really God is one of us? I believe, He is... We see him everyday through others!
"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."Matthew 25:40
"Instead of being chained by the past, focus on the front windshield and not the rearview mirror of life"colin powell
All of us have something in our past that we regret doing. It may have been an honest mistake, a moral failure or a foolish decision. We wish it had not happened, but it remains in our mind and often drags us down.
While the past remains part of our lives, it doesn't have to determine our future. With God's wisdom and the forgiveness He offers, we can focus on the future with hope!
"It is better to look ahead and prepare than to look back and despair."(Our Daily Bread)
