Love is all these — and more!

Before anything else, I would like to apologize for putting out wrong information in my article about Hollywood last week.

I mentioned Daffy Duck in Disneyland when it really should be Donald Duck. Daffy Duck is actually from Warner Bros.

Ha, ha, ha, ha! That just clearly proves how clueless I was about the Great Hollyweird er, Hollywood. That was a bit embarrassing, he, he, he, he.

Anyway, thanks a lot to those who sent me e-mails so I can correct my faux pas.

Moving along, at my young age, I have come across many people asking me how I define love.

Well, love for me is anything! It’s a term understood in many different ways and I never really was able to answer it with anything but a smile.

Couples often have difficulties understanding each other due to not being able to clearly express what they expect love to be within their relationship.

I guess there is really no correct meaning to love. Books, magazines and television express love in their own way.

Even the Bible talks about love. What love for me is being willing to do what makes the other person happy.

Every person is different and that’s why I could never give a straight answer.

However, I have some books about love and I agree with most of the things I read. I would like to share them with you:

LOVE: Loving yourself. Loving others.

PATIENCE: Take the time to get to know the person you’re thinking about being with.

KINDNESS: Bending over to help the person. Treating him/her with respect.

FAITHFULNESS: Being a one-person kind of person. Being loyal.

LOVE IS KIND: Words and action can be used to build a person up, especially when you have to say no to someone.

LOVE IS NOT PROUD: It is not rude. Love keeps ego in check.

LOVE IS NOT EASILY ANGERED: When someone tells you no love holds back bitterness.

LOVE ALWAYS HOPES, ALWAYS PRESERVES: Love is persistent. It helps us keep on loving, no matter what.

That part of it gave me a better understanding on my past relationship. I now have some ideas on how loving someone really is supposed to be.

This next part helped me get back up on my feet after my heart was broken.

The "But" Of Love

Love does not make one a doormat. Love is firm, not jellyfish soft.

You can love, but you don’t have to compromise your principles or allow yourself to be manipulated.

Love does not give one license to manipulate a person through a kind and loving act.

You know, that kind of showing love to someone to get something in return.

Love may preserve, but not to the point of annoying someone. No should mean no.

Love actually is a big part of our lives. Whether we like it or not, we experience being heartbroken at some point.

Near-death experience

Just recently, I spoke to Larry Leviste, a friend of mine, about his "near-death" experience.

He was telling me about how he had gotten into a bad accident a few years back. He actually died, went to heaven, and spoke to God.

God basically told him that he had to come back to this world. Much against his will, Larry obliged.

He was in coma for a week. When he woke up, all he could clearly remember was being told that we are judged upon how much love we give to this world when we go to heaven.

He shares his story with everyone to teach them to love others without expecting anything in return because no matter how bad we get, God loves us enough to always give another chance to change. Larry’s story really touched me.

Right now, I’ve come to realize that I’m not ready to be in a relationship.

I know it sounds all weird because I’m still young but just a little less than a year ago, I experienced my heart being broken, where I lost almost everything I worked hard for.

That was when I began disclosing my emotions through writing. So, you better watch out next week.

I will share with you some of my deepest thoughts about love. For now, I suggest you guys start planning your sweet getaway for Valentine’s Day.

Feel free to send me your thoughts or opinions at [email protected].