First, in response to your other post, I'm sorry that you found it to be hurtful - truly wasn't my intention and I'm sorry that it happened. I will modify what I say in anything further.


You're right, it is a very hard question to answer. Here's how a very good friend of mine answers that question. Love is when the object of your deepest affection comes to you and tells you that she has fallen in love with your best friend and you are happy for her because she has found more happiness than she had with you.

He points out that true love is rare. He goes on to point out that anything less is varying degrees of selfishness and comes with all the pain and anguish that selfishness brings.

Me, I more or less agree with him. If my wife left me for someone else that increased her happiness, I would be very sad for me, but very happy for her. I also believe that the more we work on our capacity to love others, the more others are drawn to us. Love is palatable, and it draws people to it.