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PART 1
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(FWD from Brian McCarthy, 4/6/97, author unknown)

 How to Know If You Are In Love   

   What, then, is this elusive thing called love that everyone so 

desperately needs? Sometimes, we sort of like this girl because she 
 
is beautiful. Or the girl likes him because he is handsome. But this 

kind of "Cinderella Syndrome" when the girl is waiting on her Prince 

Charming, is not real love. It is better known as "infatuation", and 

there is a vast difference between it and real love. Here, we help 

you to differentiate and find out if you are really in love and not just 

infatuation. 


 Infatuation   

   Infatuation is a feeling; real love involves a commitment also. 

Infatuation is just love of emotion. Real love, though, is love of 

devotion. Only the emotions are affected in infatuation, but in real 

love both the emotions and the will are involved. 


   Next, a person "fall into" infatuation, but "grows into" real love. 

Guys, have you ever seen a girl who was so beautiful that you thought 

you'd faint? This is infatuation! It is based totally on physical attraction;  

often you don't know much in-depth about the person you so-called love.  

Thus, infatuation is mostly biological. 


   Also remember, never tell a girl you love her, unless you are willing to marry her. 


   Then, infatuation is basically selfish where real love is basically selfless .  

Infatuation is more interested in satisfying yourself and the "feeling" than it  

is in the other person. 


   Real love is primarily interested in the other person. It seeks to give instead of  

get.. Love unselfishly seeks the highest good for the other person. 


   Lastly, infatuation is weakened by time and separation where real love is  

strengthened by time and separation. This does not mean that there will be  

no pain in separation. On the contrary, there is great pain in separation if  

you are truly in love. 


 LOVE  

   Now you know what is infatuation, we will go on to discuss about the details 
 
of a true love. 


 Love is patient 


   The word translated "patient" means to wait patiently for the fulfillment of  

expectations. 


   When you have diffculty dating this girl and she does not want to come out,  

if you truly love her, you will not complain and blame her, you must look at the  

situation from her point of view - maybe she is having some problems which  

prevented her from coming out. You must react to it with patience and understanding. 


   Next, have you ever met someone you liked so much that you wanted to push the  

relationship and make it progress faster? Sure you have! Love, however, is willing to  

give a relationship time to grow at a natural pace. It does not push but is willing to wait  

for the relationship to grow at a rate that is satisfactory to both parties. 


Love is Kind  

   Love seeks to encourage and build up others. It respects the feelings and emotions  

of others. It finds its greatest satisfaction in making others happy. 


You can do the following: 


   (1) Give one another things such as gifts and encouragment cards. 

   (2) Compliment one another. Magnify the other party's strength. 

   (3) Listen to one another. Pay close attention to what each of you has to say and 

   make each other feel that what each says is important. 

   (4) Treat one another special in public. Compliment and encourage one another  

    sincerely in the prescene of others. 


 Love is Not Jealous 
 
   Jealousy usually indicates an insecure and immature heart. Love wants the best for  

others, but jealousy is possessive. Jealous is reflected in the childish statement, "If he  

is going to talk to her, then he can just forget about me!" 


   Often, one person wants to totally possess the other and to restrict her relationships  

with others. 


   The best solution, for Christians, is to pray for the person who you are jealous of! 


 Love is Not Brag   

   Love is not a windbag and is not anxious to impress. Often a guy will brag to a girl,  

trying to impress her so that she will like him. A truly great person, however, does not  

need to exalt himself! Others will exalt him. 


 Love is Not Arrogant 
 
   Love is not conceited, boastful, cocky, or stuck-up. Love, instead, is humble and has  

a servant attitude. 


   Sometimes, a guy may come across to a girl with an "I can take you or leave you" attitude.  

His demeanour implies, "You ought to be thankful that somebody as neat as me is dating you."  

Of course, this is not love. 


 Love always covers 
 
   This word cover means to pass over in silence, to keep confidential. Love is patient with the  

faults of others. It doesn't critcise and broadcast to the world the faults of others. Love is there  

even when it knows the other is not perfect. 


 Love always Perseveres  
 
   Love always stands its ground and holds out. It will outlast anything. It will even love in the face  

of unreturned love. 


   Real love will last though all sorts of trials, tribulations and stresses. 


 Love is Not Provoked   

   This means that love has a long fuse. It does not become irritated and angry. It is not easily offended. 


 Love does not seek its own 
 

   This is the heart of love. Love is other-centred rather than self-centred. Love says, "I love you,  

I want to give to you." Selfishness says, "I love you, I want you!" 


   Love does not act unbecomingly  
 

   This means that love does not behave disgracefully, dishourably or indecently. It does not  

embarrass others by its action. It is characterised by tact and sensitivity. 


   This also means that love should have good manner. Be sure to do little things like opening  

doors for your girl, or offering her your arm when you walk together. 


   Love is forgiving  
 
   Lastly, this is a MUST for a successful love story. If a guy is not willing to forgive and forget when  

his girlfriend is one hour late, he is not exhibiting love. Love doesn't hold grudges when it has been 

   wronged. It doesn't remain resentful. 


   Remember this: Love forgets past failures and sins. 




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PART DEUX
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(FWD from Amy Hsieh, 5/17/97, author unknown) 



Infatuation is instant desire.  It*s one set of glands calling to another. Love is friendship  

that has caught fire. It takes root and grows one day at a time. 

         Infatuation is marked by a feeling of insecurity. You are excited and eager, but not  

genuinely happy.  There are nagging doubts, unanswered questions, little bits and pieces  

about your beloved that you would just as soon not examine too closely.  It might spoil the dream. 

        Love is the quiet understanding and mature acceptance of imperfection.  It is real.  It gives  
 
you strength and grows beyond you - to bolster your beloved.  You are warmed by his/her presence,  

even when s/he is away.  Miles do not separate you.  You want him/her near.  But near or far, you  

know s/he is yours and you can wait. 

         Infatuation says, "We must get married right away.  I can*t risk losing him/her." 

        Love says, "Be patient.  Don*t panic.  S/He is yours.  Plan your future with confidence." 

        Infatuation has an element of sexual excitement.  If you are honest, you will admit it is difficult  
 
to be in one another*s company unless you are sure it will end in intimacy.  Love is the maturation of  

friendship.  You must be friends before you can be lovers. 

         Infatuation lacks confidence.  When s/he*s away, you wonder if s/he*s cheating.  Sometimes  

you even check. 

         Love means trust.  You are calm, secured, and unthreatened.  S/he feels that trust and it makes  

her/him even more trustworthy. 

        Infatuation might lead you to do things you*ll regret later, but love never will. 

        Love is an upper.  It makes you look up.  It makes you think up.  It makes you a better person than  

you were before.  


 send a  Virtual Flower Bouquet  to your love ones NOW! 

 alrite i'm done. bring me back! 
 WAIT! i got cool articles of the sort to share it with ya!