Re-reading the previous sentiment (N.4), I realize that the phrase “I love you” is used so frequently it no longer conveys just how profound a feeling it is to really love someone. Perhaps, if you can hear me say it, hear my voice, and that will give it weight. Close your eyes and listen. “I love you. Can you hear my voice? I love you dearly and always will.” I hope you can feel that love each time you read this book. Even after I am gone.

There is no greater pleasure I have known than to love another. The love a husband has for his wife, a parent for their child, is the most powerful and sensation we experience. Love connects us with the divine, erases for a time all that ails us, fills us up with bliss. What love inspires – the euphoric emotion, the lightness of being, the outright neglect of our troubled thoughts – is the optimal state of being.

Ironically, throughout your life, love will also be the cause of significant pain. This is due to the complexity of human relationships. Pain will be caused by misunderstandings, disagreement, and even mistreatment. This is inevitable and you will have to learn to cope with it by whatever methods suit you. However, do not confuse misunderstanding and disagreement with mistreatment. Should you ever be mistreated by a person you love take the time to reevaluate the relationship. Seek trusted advice from friends, family members, or even professionals, if necessary. They will likely confirm your own thoughts and help determine whether or not the relationship is worth carrying on.