The Great Lover's Manifesto Love is a decision; a commitment; a covenant. Love is given with no thought of return. Love wills to act in the other’s highest interest. Love accepts because it loves; not because of something on the part of the other. Love acknowledges and is sensitive to the needs of the one loved. Love is not a feeling; but a relationship needs warm and loving feelings to support the intentions of my love. Love is a commitment forever; a permanent thing; a life-wager—not as long as, or until anything. Love forgives and forgets the failings of the one loved. Love lets me begin again without handicap. Love is unceasing, unearned, integrating, and personal. Love is the surrender of a certain portion of my sovereignty. Love means the unreserved giving of myself for the benefit of the other, even if it cost me my life. Love is liberating. Love cannot be banked. Love is never on stage. Love is a lover of truth—even about myself. Love and authenticity are inseparable partners. Love comes in and defenses drop, freedom begins and fatigue moves out. Love esteems and affirms the unique value of the one loved. Love’s submissive authority wins because it doesn’t fear losing. Love is the non-possessive delight in the particularity of the other. Love’s irony is that when I need it the most I am the most unlovely. Love is costly, but the alternatives are deadly. The most loving thing I will ever do will probably be the hardest. I need to know the love you offer me is the permanent offer before I give up my security operations, my masks, roles, and games. Love exists when the satisfaction, security, and development of the other person becomes as significant as my own satisfaction, security, and development. When I am no longer afraid of neediness, I am no longer afraid of love. If I have love in my life, it can make up for a great many things I lack. If I do not have love, no matter what else there is, it is not enough. The ultimate success of my life will not be judged by those who admire me for my accomplishments, but by the number of those who attribute their wholeness to my loving them, by the number of those who have seen their true beauty and worth in my eyes. Copyright, 1998 - 2005. All Rights Reserved. http://www.angelfire.com/al3/thecabin The groovy border, button, and bar are courtesy Windy's Web Designs. The great cabin graphic is courtesy Microsoft's Design Gallery Live.