"Love is kind and patient, never jealous, boastful, proud nor rude.
Love isn't selfish nor quick tempered.

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

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

Love never fails!"

 1st Corinthians 13:4-8

also on this page: the eight types of love from ancient Greece, "The Five Love Languages" and "Nonviolent Communication"

The Ancient Greeks were aware of eight different types of love:

AGAPE
altruistic love

★ purchasing a young person a good video game they've been yearning to play ★

★ giving people in homeless circumstance healthy food and water ★

 

PRAGMA
enduring love

★ doing hard work for our future ★

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

EROS
passionate love

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

★ flashing a big smile to an attractive person ★


PHILIA
"Platonic" love

★ remaining pen pals with someone overseas ★

★ going to a new friend's birthday party ★


STORGE
devoted love

★ donating a kidney for a family member ★

★ visiting 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 good bubble bath after working 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 person'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 fun.

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, Gertrude."

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

  • Expressing Yearnings --- Samuel: "I am more aware now of 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 would 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.