I Love You!

I don't always take them seriously when I hear them as to many people will use the words casually. I have used them, and been involved with someone when I used them but he knew I meant that I loved him as a friend, that I had not said them because I was in love with him. I am not in love with im, never had been, but I value him, and love him for who he is, and what he means to me. I was always very careful not to fall "in" love. Unfortunately no matter how careful you care it happens. I didn't want to fall in love and was careful when dealing with men not to use the words casually, because I knew that like so many in my family when I did it would be serious, and deep. Which it was, and is. I was lucky that he said it to me first. He felt it first. I was able to be safe when I realized I felt the same. When it comes to friends, I can tell them I love them, and I say it to my niece all the time, she grew up hearing those words, naturally easily, but with real meaning behind them. So she had the security to feel and give love, and recieve and embrace it easily. I didn't hear it a lot growing up but often enough that I knew it was there, and I knew it was real. So for me I just can't use it as a casual expression. I recently said something in passing which as a kind of good news thing, and the guy responded with bless you I love you, I didn't take it seriously I knew it was not meant as anything other than I really like what you said and hope things really work out that way. I smiled and accepted it for what it was. I just can't always take it seriously it is not so much that I don't accept the words, just that I realize that for some the words are very casual, and have little real significant meaning. When I know there is a meaning behind the words I value it as the gift it is, and leave it at that.

Perhaps these words sometimes seem "scary" to us, because they may also be the most POWERFUL words we have. Few things have the power to "build up" or "tear down" like love. The English language-- in spite of being one of the languages with the MOST words in the world-- has a peculiar shortcoming in that we have only ONE word for "Love." And pop culture tends to tint our perceptions of love in the direction of something "romantic." Which is a shame. In Greek, for example, there are multiple words for "love," each with their own meaning... making it easier to distinguish between the romantic love you might feel towards a lover (eros), and the affection between parent and child (storge), or a more general "love" between humans in friendship (philia), and so forth. I do tell a lot of people that I love them, but I find that it can be tricky because I often have to "preface" the statement with a long explanation of "what I mean," (for example, if I were to tell a platonic female friend) so as to remove the cultural "implications" of the statement. Great topic!

I was raised with a Mother who could not say those words so in my rebellion I learned to say it often, over the years I have been more selective in only repeating such words only when I truly felt them, but there are so many definitions of love in my life, there is devotional love that you share with your mate, there is unconditional love that you share with your family and children and then there is love that you share with your friends, very different from the other forms of love. I try to have many loves in my life, I love these words and say them often to the many people in my life.

yeah, i totally agree. coz it's a big deal to say these three words - to me, at least. i don't wanna just give it away unless i mean it. well, i tell my friends that and my family. i've never really said that to a guy out loud though. i don't know. it's earth shattering for me so i have to make sure that the guy deserves it and that i won't regret saying that and that i won't take it back no matter what.

I love you? Hmm... these are 3 very hard words for me. I can't remember ever saying them to be honest.

I feel guilty to say that I never say them to my parents. Many times when I really want to, I swallowed it, coz I was afraid it would scare them. In China we seldom express so directly, even among the youth. However, when I got in love with my first ex-girlfriend at 17, I decided to change it. Every night I said the three words to her. Eventually she left me becase she said she can't bear it any longer. I now feel that what I did then was so childish. Many years later, I have now my own understanding, the three words weighs so heavily and mean so much. How can one easily put it out? I regret to say to myself I have never said I love you to my girlfriend, because I am not sure whether it is true love. Time will tell. God knows.

most people easy said i love you...include me, but the problem is "HOW many times word "i love u" you say to your MOM and DAD"? in your life.....!

I do not use these 3 words for just anyone. there is only a few selected ones that hear them from me. my family ofcourse, mom dad and brother. My honey (bf) and also one close friend of mine -. but that´s about it!

I only say "I love You" .. if i really feel that I love a person. Mostly iI say it to my family, close friends and special someone. When I say it, I mean it.

These three words are not only the most powerful ones but also the most abused and misused group of three words in the world I guess! People who don't really know the depth of love go about merrily scattering it like confetti, without sparing a moment's thought to its significance. While I have not had any trouble telling those I truly loved, the three words, I have never bandied it around, saying it when I have not meant it. A lot of people seem to confuse like and love and use them at will, but I'm aware of the difference, and whenever I use it, I make sure that the other person understands that I meant it too..

yeah we should use them sparingly, then they mean more love for a lover is different from love for parents its real love in both cases, just different somebody said to me once "I love him" what the heck was that? WHO? ME? Her other man? Who? It was weird to hear that.

i love you. the most sincere word but being used sometimes by the most insincere person. sometimes they say it to everyone for a joke so people won't take it too seriously but i hate saying that kind words as a thing to help increase our nice sense of humor or even your reputation as the campus crushie. it is a word only said to the ones you REALLY love.

I also have to say that i dont use thes lightle to be honest i think they never left my mouth. I have liked alot of people but i never felt love wheal not yet anyway.I anit the kind of person that spread these words around like they were hot coco when i will say it to somone they will have to be somone speacial and i mean realy special.Some people use them so simply not even acknolowging there power.As for somebody saying them to me wheal i dont now i cant remeber but hey maybe i am just not a loveable person :).Anyways if i were to love somone my actions would speak a hell of a lot more than my words could ever do.In my opinion loving somone isint saying that you love them its showing them that you love by being there when they need you sacrafing for them.Just saying the word dont amount to jack$%& you have to mean them and prove it.

"I LOVE YOU" these three words are very small but its weight is too much.These words are the easiest way to show your feeling to your love ones which included your parents ,relatives,friends 'n' your beloved too.But these three little words meaning are different to everyone.I am also used these words only those people which one really close to my heart.i know that they(my parents,my few friends)know how much i love them but these words are the only a way or me to giving them thanks that they come in my life and giving me so much love 'n' affection.

In college days we try to use many times to attract girls but once i realised what is life and career then i stopped thinking about those words...after settled in life got married and did not get chance to say those beautiful words...now i am using those 3 words for my wife when ever is angry:-) and using for my kids but my wife say as 1 4 3 and the meaning is differ at situation..some times i love you and some times i hate you.... thanks for the good article.......