True love comes in many guises.  We love our parents, partner, children, friends and life itself.

Nurturing love:

We are nurtured by our parents love and in our turn nurture our own children.  Nurturing love is not just about teaching young people how to behave, reason and love; it is being there when things in their life go wrong.  True love might show as listening to them when a friend at school is unkind to them, helping to find an alternate route in life when a key exam is failed.  Being a parent does not stop when the child leaves home.

‘Once a parent, always a parent’

including being there for your child through adult life challenges such as a disappointment at work, divorce, health issues.

‘Being loved is key to an individual’s well-being.’

Romantic and lustful love:

At the start of a relationship it is full of excitement with romantic and perhaps lustful love.  If a relationship is sustained, ‘true love’ will grow.  It copes with the dirty socks left on the bedroom floor, arriving home late with a cheeky smile or a forgotten special date.

‘True love learns to say sorry and to accept a sorry honestly given.’

Caring love:

True love feels complete when it carries you through key changes in life such as the birth of a child, death of a parent, loss of a job and retirement. Loving and being loved goes on throughout your relationships. True love means you will be there for your love no matter what and they are secure in this knowledge.

‘Caring love gives your relationship a warm and secure feel.’

Companionable love:

Throughout life, companionship love brings a comfort of just being with someone. Someone with whom to discuss ideas, worries, hopes and dreams or to share wonderful moments together such as a beautiful sun-set.

‘Love is good in all of its guises.’