What is love?

What is the meaning of the word love? In our world today we use this word all the time. I love this. I love that, but what do we really mean when we say that. Do we really love whatever we're talking about or is it just a word that comes on the tip of the tongue. I happen to know that in German culture they don't use the word love with someone unless they are married or are at least extremely serious. This is very interesting considering that in our culture it's thrown out so much that I believe it's becoming meaningless. I began thinking about this because there are a few people that will tell me "I love you" and I know that they want to hear it back. If they don't they will be hurt, even if they think I may not be speaking the truth. It bothers me that I have to say it, even though I don't necessarily mean it. It may be that I'm just choosy with the people I use the word love with. As I get deeper into thought on this subject I begin to explore the past and men that I loved. As I'm still quite young the list of boyfriends is still short. I would say that there are two that I dated long enough to even consider. Out of those two I never can come to the conclusion that I was "in love" with them. I continue to ask myself what love is. Am I so cynical when it comes to love and romance that I believe that true love can't happen, or that I can't be in love? Or is it just that I put my work before romance that I forget those signs and feelings? I eventually come to some conclusion that I was in love with one of them, but since the feeling wasn't mutual I blocked my feelings from my mind.

In my head I have such a wonderful picture of what love is and want to experience it, yet being so young I haven't gotten there yet. It makes life a little frustrating sometimes. Plus in this day and age if you're not focused on your career, especially being a woman, you begin to become behind and then end up getting lost in the shuffle. It's just such a fast-paced world we live in today. I hate it! I love being leisurely about doing things, and just really taking your time. When you're done there is a bigger sense of accomplishment. It's really amazing. But how do I live? The way I would like or how the world wants me to? Would I accomplish everything I would like? Would I be more in love with my life my way? Who knows? Nobody does.