Infatuation vs. Love

Many of us confuse Love for Infatuation.

Love: Noun
a profoundly tender,  passionate affection for another person.


Infatuation: Noun

foolish or all-absorbing passion or an instance of this: a mere infatuation that will not last.

The symptoms of both of these terms in the beginning are very similar, but end up deferring.
You get that warm fuzzy butterflies, heart racing, anticipation for that other person. You feel committed to them 110%, ride or die. You're so consumed with that person that your perception of reality has been altered. Now this doesn't necessarily have to be a bad thing. It becomes bad when you're no longer think of yourself, and needs that, is when infatuation is occurring.

Infatuation is often related to when one person is participating in an one sided relationship. A loving and lasting relationship will consist of both people in the relationship, caring for each other equally.

I know that as young adults most of us have been infatuated at one time or another. As we are in our, what they call "sweet spot" years, between the ages of 18-25, we are most likely to be persuaded in any different direction than what we know.

The leading cause of divorce is young adults who get married at the age of 20-23. This is because, we are still trying to find out who we are, and who we will become. Many young adults are so consumed about being/having a significant other that they aren't trying to figure solely out themselves. Because this infatuation kept growing, and spiraling out of control, now two people are stuck together, who possibly have kids and struggle day to day to get by, and to find happiness. This infatuation is a high, the drug is the other person. You keep chasing that high, by trying and fighting to be with that person, no matter the cost. Resulting in you losing yourself.

Love is intensifying.
It is a bond between two people who genuinely respect each other, and wouldn't want harm to come from them or anyone, consciously or unconsciously. Love is when you have a disagreement, you're able to work it out with out questioning if that other person will be so angry that they will leave. Love is when you look at that other person, and they look at your back smiling because there is no where else either one of you would be. You're not chasing a high, because there is no high. Love is not a drug, it is antidote for both of the people in a relationship. Being in the mere presence of one another is enough to satisfy any other desires or lusts.

Now, if people were able to distinguish between love and infatuation, more people would be able to leave relationships that potentially could be bad for them. Also, these people would be able to love themselves first, and then know how to love a healthy way. When you know how to love a healthy way, you will also know how to be loved in a healthy way.

                                                                 XO Sammie