Re: What is love?

I love this question, so much so that I have Robert Indiana's love tattooed on my left shoulder to remind me every day of how difficult the idea is, not so much so in concept as in practice. In concept, I define love to be living one's life accepting of all others and, perhaps most important, oneself. Of course this means accepting of the good and the bad in oneself and others, which is where the rub comes in. Being accepting of oneself and others does not imply abdication of responsibility. I can be accepting of my addiction to cocaine without denying I have responsibility for my recovery. I can be accepting of one's prejudices without denying he or she has responsibility for seeking wisdom. For me, the greatest rub is found in the notion and application of unconditional love. Unless one is "healthy," unconditional love morphs easily into co-dependence, which denies one the opportunity for greater personal growth and wisdom.