"All You Need is Love"?

You know the song, don't you? The popular Beatles song that made all the ladies swoon and perhaps some of the men, too. :) Were these guys onto something? Is love all we really need? Could it be that simple? Or is it more complicated than that? Or...are we the ones that make it so complicated?

I am reading "Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus" by John Gray. This is one book I will recommend to EVERYONE, regardless of whether you are in a romantic relationship or not. The reason behind this is that this can only help you deal with men and women in all facets of your life, whether it's your parent, sibling, co-worker, boss, etc. It doesn't matter. And, if you are looking for love, then communication, as well as knowing and respecting each other's differences can only aide you. It's simple reading and if you don't want to help yourself then who will? Let's face it, knowing how to deal with the opposite sex instead of expecting them to be like you can only be a bonus.

To me, thinking all love is the end all be all is a little simplistic. Relationships are a LOT of work, if you want them to last, at any rate. Mom and Dad get on your nerves because they just don't get you or they are living in the dark ages. As you grow up, you either run away as far as you can from them or you learn to communicate with them on a level you can all live with. Otherwise, family reunions end up resembling the WWF (World Wrestling Federation). And do you really want your marriage to be like an episode of "Married With Children"? They may be fun to watch but try living with your own Al or Peg Bundy.

My heart tells me love is oh so very important and maybe it can stand alone on some very high level, but here in the physical world it may need some help. What other qualities go into a loving, SUCCESSFUL relationship? Trust and love, in my opinion, must go hand in hand. I cannot comprehend how you can have one without the other. Some of the others are: acceptance, mutual respect, caring, good communication skills, active listening, and here's a biggie...a sense of humor! You're going to need to laugh some days just to get over the hump because if you aren't laughing you are probably crying. I don't know about you, but laughing is much more preferable to me then swimming in a sea of unhappy tears with a steady stream of snot muddying the waters.

So far, this has been pretty one-sided. Are you reading out there? What are your thoughts, experiences, beliefs, stories...? Come on...I know you have them.