Maybe love is metamorphic. I see it as something that grows; transforms over time and space (environment), rather than merely defined by time and space.

When I relate to my therapist while experiencing an infantile, regressed state of mind, I love him when he makes me feel safe and warm inside. That's a facet of me, representing my past feelings as an infant. It's an infant's love, yes , but it comes from my psyche. From adult me.

Working through all my childhood emotions is like growing up with him. When I'm in an older state of mind, I might feel love for him when he encourages me to do something I don't have the confidence to do. I smile back at him embracing more of a shared-or reciprocal-love, even from my now idealizing state of mind.

As he 'raises me through my upbringing' I feel love when he accepts all parts of me, both good and bad; all the grey added in between. Through this pseudo upbringing, I notice I accept him more and more as he provides more and more unconditional acceptance of me as time goes on. Not only is there feeling love, but love is being created.

Is this a childish love (or 'therapy love') slowly transforming into mature love? I believe so. Love can be a growth process rather than a force classified into types, names, descriptions.

This 'model' can also be applied to non-therapeutic relationships. At least that's how I see it, for example, when knowing or observing older couples who are clearly in a strong, loving relationship.

Regardless of all the different "types" of love (which are very interesting to think about), love just doesn't seem like an end state to me. Its fluid, malleable, opaque, strong, powerful, transforming. Its boundless, freeing.

Love has no rules. I hope that made sense, or did it seem like i said that love is somehow like Schrödinger's cat?!