How can you recognize love? Can you distinguish it from lust or a feeling of fondness or togetherness?
827194
The word love is very overrated.. the feeling of love is when you have someone in your life that you want to be with 24/7, I mean really want to be with... This usually comes when that someone feels the same way... You are on the same page when it comes to consideration, attentiveness, standards, values, sex, and pretty much everything else there is in life.\n\nIf you ever get this feeling with someone you will grow into loving each other. At this point the words have a meaning that is difficult for the inexperienced to comprehend.\n- It's pretty cool I must say.
1135409
When you suspect yourself being in love, there's a high chance that you really are in love... Eg: You're asking us how to tell if you're in love, you're curious, so it's quite likely that you are in love\n\nNow ask yourself, do you miss that person whenever you're apart? Do you start looking around when the person isn't around but you expect him to be there?\n\nAnswered yes? No doubt you're in love!
664344
While there's no clear, fool-proof way to decipher your feelings for someone, there are certain ways to make this distinction clearer for yourself\n\nWrite down everything that you associate with the person you're feeling strongly about. For example, love, butterflies, sex, holding hands, etc. \n\nCircle each attribute with a different color such as red for lust, yellow for infatuation, and green for love. \n\nSee which of the three feelings dominates the page. If one doesn't stand out (like if the distribution seems pretty equal), move on to the following steps for more insight.\n\nRead literature and scriptures on the topic. Questions about love are timeless questions that have consumed mankind throughout the ages and are a major theme in many scriptures, tales from mythology, and literature. Read the story of David and Bathsheba from Jewish scriptures, 1st Corinthians from Christian scriptures, the story of Ali and Fatima, Narcissus and Echo, or Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet\n\nAsk your friends or, if you find it easier, ask a complete and utter stranger, so that you get an honest opinion and an outsider's point of view. Tell that person how you feel, and ask them if it sounds primarily like love, infatuation, or lust. \n\nWatch a movie that relates to your situation like "Cruel Intentions" (which is about lust, and wanting what you can't have), "Down to You" (which is about love and leaving it all down to the other person), "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days" (which is about none of them really but it's about making a mistake and putting it right), "The Phantom of the Opera" (which is about both lust and infatuation) and, finally, "Titanic" (which is about holding on to someone forever until you die - that is love - bittersweet love). \n\n\nKeep in mind that in most relationships, you're feeling all three (love, infatuation, and lust) all at once, to some degree. \n\nSometimes the person that you love isn't always the person that you want. \n\nTo help you make tough decisions about your relationship, ask someone you trust who has lots of experience with the kind of relationship you want for yourself. For example: \n\nSay you want to be happily married to one person for life. \n\nIf your parents have both been bitterly divorced three times, then they are probably not the ones to talk to. On the other hand, if they are about to celebrate their 50th anniversary of bliss together, then they may be ideal to learn from. \n\nLasting relationships are the those that are built on love -not infatuation or lust. Imagine the person you love in 50 years when they are old and fat. Would that change how you feel about them? If yes, then what you feel now is most likely lust/infatuation - not love. \n\nFriendship should also weigh into your decision to commit. \n\nIn 50 years, if you don't genuinely LIKE your mate, you're going to be miserable. \n\nWarnings \nIf you're not sure about your feelings or your relationship, take things slowly. Spend time apart and see how you are feeling while you are away. Do you miss the person? Or are you more attracted to others when you are apart?
374607
Maybe you fall in love with the idea of love.  You're probably an optimist (like me) and can recognize something lovable in a person in a short period of time. However, what time and experience will give you is the discernment to determine what kind of love it is or to what degree you love the person... whether it's an infatuation, a crush, a sexual attraction, a deep commitment.  My advise is to find out what you want out of a romantic love relationship first. Be clear on this and when the right person/right kind of love stares you in the face, you will recognize it.
1156614
Lust is part of love but love is not part of lust...\n\nLust can happen all on its own (just for sex), or it can happen as part of the love and passion that two people feel for each other when they're in love.\n\nLove and lust are not completely separate things, but the way they combine - and can be confused with each other - can be very complicated!
611610
You will know....its not like you will sit around and be like....i wonder if this is love. If your love is b/c the other person makes you feel good...its not real love. Real love is self sacrificing and takes a long time to develop. Months, years even, and you have to genuinely know the person. Its not an emotion.
298028
You'll know, and anyone who's ever been in love knows this. It's a feeling that is undescribable by the human being, yet it's so unique. I think if we tried to describe how you will know when you are in love, we'd all come up with different answers.
1123029
Wow, this is a hard one! Love is putting that persons needs ahead of yours! Love is feeling something so deep in your heart, that you are about to burst! Love is missing a smell, a look , a touch and never being able to replace it. Love is holding your grandchild for the first time. Love is crying when your child goes to school the first day and leaves you.Love is your cat sitting on your lap and purring so contently. Love is opening your heart to all the possibilities of another human being touching your life in even the smallest way. Love is giving with no expectations. Love is painful and lonely. Love is full of laughter and joy! Love is life and without it, nothing is worth living!
1111344
it's never "love" at first sight - that can only be lust or infatuation. love is such a strong emotion, you could never possibly feel its impact unless you knew someone....
865554
It's not really a feeling you can describe, it just sort of happens. And love is different for everybody. You'll know when it happens. You wont know why or how, you'll just know that you love the person. And that's all there is to it.
1006700
Well  for me Love is something that makes you who you are,\nLove is being happy for the other person when they are happy, \nbeing sad for the other person when they are sad, \nbeing together in bad times and good times...\nLove is being honest with yourself at all times,\ntelling, listening, and never pretending...\nLove is an understanding that is so complete \nthat you feel as if you are a part of the other person,\naccepting the other person just the way they are, \nand not try to change them to be something else...\nLove is freedom to pursue your own desires, \nwhile showing your experiences with the other person...\nLove is the excitement of planning things togeather...\nLove is the fury of the storm, the calm in the rainbow...\nLove is the source of passion...\nlove is seen yourself in the eyes of the person that shares your heart.
65276
Lust is selfish and love is selfless. If you can't tell the difference, then it's lust. You'll know when you are being loved.\n\nQuote:\nLove is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged. It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
374302
all above have told you what you already know  and I agree with most.\n\nto that I add\n\n\n\nIt does not seem like you have any clue what love is.\n \nyou seem to be in lust.\n\nLove is respect honor when you are really in love all others are not seen like that any longer.\n\nSeems you still have not found true love.\n\nI pray you will know it and be loved too.
1124764
It's a beautiful feeling. And yet, it may be lust. You'll just know. I don't know how to explain it, but you just don't want to lose sight of that person. You want to be with them. You want to just hold them and never let go. And you go insanely happy when you hear their voice. Their smile makes you melt. The way their body feels against yours when being hugged .. your heart just beats faster and faster. Yep, there's no way to explain a feeling. Enjoy it and don't abuse it.
732492
U can know ur in Love when:-\nU wanna be around ur sweetie even at 3 am(if not married), u wanna hold his/her hand even in public,u wanna keep ur head on his shoulder at any time just to relax, u wanna see all his romantic activities now itself,u wanna be there for her / him all the time,u wanna b there with him /  her all the time, u wanna keep his / her touch active, u wanna c him / her all the time, ur hands find theirs without much searching,their hands find urs................etc,,etc\n                              Most IMP, u blush at the thought of that person,u smile for no reasons, u think of that person all the time,u wanna kiss her/ him all the time,u wanna be around him /  her,u appreciate everything about that person.........etc ,etc\nBelieve me this does happen.I am LOVE.I know I have felt these feelings.\nTake care and wish u all the Best.
165806
it depends ont he kind of poeple you both are if you are both very attracted to each other try as hard as possible to differentiate between love and lust make it a point to say im feeling in lust now or im feeling in love now then you would know where the thin line is
192997
You ask a loaded question and there is no one answer.\nLove is holding hands after being to together for hundreds of years. love is laughter. love is sharing. love is still being able to tickle each other after many years. Love is supportive, Love is resisting the temptation of the "lady" down the block. Love is not placing blame when no child is born out of the union. Love is cheering up your mate when sadness lurks by. Love is putting up with the mother-in -law just because. Love is, his caress. love is, his kiss on your neck. love is the curling of toes. Love is tender\n\n    LOVE DOES NOT HURT.