Dating

I think I might be in love.

1. “How do I know if I am in love?” That question has been asked by millions for centuries. Any question asked for so long by so many cannot be easy to answer. Sometimes it is easier to say what love is not than to say what it is.
   1. Love is not a feeling based upon the way that someone looks or what they do.
   2. Love is not something that is here today and gone tomorrow.
   3. Love is not the same thing as sex.
   4. Love is not about what you can get, but about what you can give.
2. Here are some questions you can ask that might help you understand if you are in love:
   1. Am I willing to commit myself to this one person?
   2. Am I patient with my date or do they easily frustrate me?
   3. Am I more concerned about what is best for my date, or what is best for me?
   4. Can I see myself spending the rest of my life with my date?
   5. Do I think that I love my date because of something that he/she does or has? What if he/she could no longer do or have it? Would I still love them then?
   6. Are my feelings for my date based upon something that he/she does for me? What if he/she stops doing that? Would I still love them then?
3. Love is more of a commitment than a feeling and should be taken seriously. Sometimes the best thing to do when you think that you are in love is to back off a little bit and see what happens. If what you are feeling is love, then it will not go away quickly and you can be patient and not rush into a decision or an action that you may regret later.
4. For support and someone to talk to, call the HopeLine (1-800-394-HOPE) or visit www.dmlive.com to chat with a Hope Coach.