There are eleven Arabic words for love.
The Greeks and Germans each designated eight.
The French allocated no less than seventy different words to describe different stages of l'amour.
So how come we only have one way to say it in English?
Despite our paucity of language, there are many kinds of love.
But if you want to strengthen it, there are only two things you need.
TRUST and RESPECT.
If you and your partner are missing these two things, then any intimacy you have will fall apart.
One of the reasons why these are so hard to come by is that both trust and respect must be earned.
Earning one's trust, and proving oneself worthy of respect, takes time.
So, don't be in a hurry with love.
Don't fling yourself at someone and expect love to stick.
Take your time. Build a foundation of mutual trust and respect, and the love will come.
If that level of intimacy isn't possible, then you'll know it's time to move on to someone who is capable of reflecting those values back to you and loving you as you deserve to be loved---unconditionally.
If that foundation is damaged, then that's the first thing to repair, if you want the relationship to continue.
Remember: What is yours will stay. What is not will be replaced by something better . . . in love and other, lesser things.
Accepting this is your challenge.
Til Tuesday!
Kristi Casey