"Love is kind and patient, never jealous, boastful, proud or rude.
Love isn't selfish or quick tempered.

It doesn't keep a record of wrongs that others do.
Love rejoices in the truth, but not in evil.

Love is always supportive, loyal, hopeful, and trusting.

Love never fails!"

 1st Corinthians 13:4-8


The Ancient Greeks knew eight different types of love:

AGAPE
altruistic love

★buying a young person video games they've been wanting★

★giving people in homeless circumstance good food and water★

 

PRAGMA
enduring love

★working hard for children, posterity, our future★

★virtuous efforts by such Joan d'Arc and Jesus Christ Himself★

EROS

passionate love

★Romantically kissing one's date at a high school prom★

★love-making with a spouse★


PHILIA
"Platonic" love

★remaining pen pals (by "snail mail" and--or email) with someone overseas★

★hugging someone without upsetting their sexual preferences★


STORGE
devoted love

★donating a kidney for a family member★

★visiting family for Thanksgiving, for Christmas★


LUDUS
playful love

★card games at a party such as Go Fish and Uno★

★putting "bunny ears" on someone for a picture★


MANIA
obsessive love

★high school crushes★

★the "bronies", men (like me) who genuinely enjoy the show "My Little Pony"★

PHILAUTIA
self-love

★praying the Serenity Prayer for example★

★enjoying a healthy bubble bath after working hard all day★




"The Five Love Languages" by Gary Chapman (Gary Chapman (author) - Wikipedia):

  • Words of affirmation (compliments, praise and appreciation)

    example: "You did so good at painting!" "Wow you're so smart at computers!"

  • Quality time (investing in shared experience together and giving each other undivided attention)

    example: watching a good movie with family members, playing board games with friends, patiently listening to a partner vent

  • Physical touch (showing physical affection, such as giving your partner a (permitted) hug or kiss)

    example: hugging someone in homeless circumstance, kissing a friend (each with permission, perhaps tacit)

  • Acts of service (doing something that helps a partner such as running an errand)

    example: changing a tire for people by a highway, fixing someone's thermostat

  • Gifting (giving others a present that demonstrates care and thoughtfulness)

    example: purchasing supplies for a dear one's school participation or new business venture

    The above is "bread and butter" for all relationships to become and remain joyous, happy, appreciated, and fruitfully ffun.


Along with words of compliment, "Compassionate Communication" (originally "Nonviolent Communication" oft abbreviated "NVC") developed by Dr. Marshall Rosenberg, PhD (Marshall Rosenberg - Wikipedia) is so very helpful to love all people.

Compassionate Communication includes the following requisite aspects of respectful, honest, and peaceful speech, gesturing, emailing, phone calls and other communication methods:

  • Experiential Concurrence --- Gertrude: "Oh, you didn't do the dishes as I asked you." Samuel: "Sorry! I forgot and I apologize, Gertrude."

  • Relatability of Feelings --- Gertrude: "Well, I thank you for apologizing. I feel somewhat better about it now."

  • Expressing Yearnings --- Samuel: "I know better now how important cleanliness is to you. I'll wash these now if that's okay with you."

  • Requests --- Gertrude: "Yes, please and thank you."


If you ever are involved in a conflict or heated argument, be sure to express / establish the above (with permission). The order may be critical to safely and efficaciously diffuse anger and threats, to make peace and to further relationships.

From Marshall's book we should also be mindful and present with others (like we woould want). 

Further, if a need for silence is discerned it's important to respect this and so too for any privacy need or need for discretion (such as being a gentleman and refraining from bragging about a sexual experience).

Competency at Compassion Communication is critically important globally for peace and thereby to help us sustain and mayhaps further the plenty that we are so very fortunate to have thanks to the virtuous efforts of previous generations.

May all and each of the above bless and benefit your life and the lives of those you love.