You cannot achieve real happiness without love in your life

[Yavin4]

No matter how much money you have nor how many things you may own nor how well educated you are. Nope. None of that matters without love in your life.

I didn't always believe that. In fact, I believed in the opposite. If only I had a little more money, then I'd be happy. I was wrong. Dead wrong.

If you love someone and they love you back, consider yourself a truly fortunate soul.

Everything else in life is destined for a landfill somewhere.

[Scuba]

1. +1,000

[darkangel218]

2. I agree.

Without love we are/feel like empty shells.

I know some try to deny it. But its true.

Knowing that someone loves us keeps us going.

[BenchPressingCats]

3. Agreed

And that is one of the many reasons that I hate it when people try to restrict love. Everybody should be able to find somebody to spend their life with, regardless of what's in your pants.

[In_The_Wind]

4. uh huh

[Aristus]

5. Preach it, brother...

[RobinA]

6. You Just Told

a whole lot of people in the world that they aren't happy. Hopefully they will be able to judge their level of happiness without input from others.

[walkerbait41]

9. +1

Well said

[nomorenomore08]

25. I'm sure some people can be happy alone. But others can't.

Depends on personality type and other factors.

[NV Whino]

7. That's why we have cats

And, er, dogs.

[Xipe Totec]

8. I hope it didn't take you 40 years to figure that out

Like it did me.

[alarimer]

10. Some of us are not loveable, apparently.

For some people, it just can't happen. They are too "different" or don't meet whatever standards society sets for being even "dateable".

I'm tired of looking for that needle in a haystack, that person who "gets" me. No one really ever does.

[LumosMaxima]

11. I hear you. nt

[patricia92243]

12. I know you don't mean to - but what you are saying can be very hurtful to a lot of people. n/t

[Carolina]

13. Exactly!

Last edited Fri Aug 30, 2013, 07:36 AM - Edit history (1)

The love of my life and apparent loving husband walked out suddenly after 25 years of marriage.

While he replaced me with the stereotypical younger woman, I have yet to find that elusive second love in mid-life. I take care of myself and get compliments on how I don't look my age, etc... But I don't trust anymore. I meet men, but feel little. Many have so much baggage; plus I don't wish to be someone's nurse or purse

Sure, it would be wonderful to have someone to share my life with, but I refuse to accept the OP's premise that my life is empty. In fact, after I got past the devastation of being abandoned in my 50s, I have now discovered a rich life with friends, activities and of course, my animals!

[Merlot]

28. You are absolutely right Carolina!

The idea that your life can't be full or happy if you don't have a SO is what sells sappy love songs and movies, but it's not true. There are many things in life that are worthwhile, and I'm glad you're finding them!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

14. Thank you for reminding me that my life is empty and meaningless

because I have no significant other, and at my age probably will never find one.

I was going to work on a water color painting I'd started, maybe call up a friend and make arrangements to go sailing this weekend, and if cools off a bit tomorrow I'd planned on finishing painting my deck and harvesting some more tomatoes from my garden.

But I guess I should just go stick my head in the oven because I can't possibly ever be happy.

[nomorenomore08]

26. Like I said above, it depends on the person. This is a very individual thing.

Which is to say that the OP is a tad too much of a sweeping generalization, but no doubt true of many people.

[Enrique]

15. if that's happiness, i don't want it

it sounds a bit ruthless, especially the bit about the landfill.

[Chan790]

16. Disagree.

Love sucks. Commitment sucks.

Strange forever!

[Tuesday Afternoon]

17. There are many kinds of love.

[mysuzuki2]

18. You're entirely right.

That's why I'm glad I have a dog.

[SammyWinstonJack]

20. I'm glad I have three!

[Avalux]

19. Do you mean a romantic relationship?

A person first and foremost has to love himself to be able to give love to others, and a romantic relationship with another isn't necessary to be happy. Love in a broad sense, is what we should give every day to everyone we meet. If every person on the planet did this, all of our harming each other would go *poof*.

Easier said than do though.

[lunamagica]

21. I think health comes first, then love .nt

[applegrove]

22. You need love. What kind of love it is does not matter.

[nomorenomore08]

27. +1

Friendships, family relationships, are all very important. Sometimes just as important as romance.

[d_b]

23. F'n A, bud

Love is all.

[Duer 157099]

24. I hope you are not saying that we need someone else to make us happy

As many have pointed out, loving our pets is still love. Loving our job/career is still love. Loving being in nature is still love.

Hopefully you realize that all of those count. It isn't just loving a particular person, because if they die, then what?

[Locut0s]

29. No. The only important thing in life IS that you achieve real happiness...

So long as you aren't harming others to achieve said happiness how and why you have is of no importance. I've seen and talked to people who have no partners or SO and seem to have settled into a very peaceful and happy life indeed. I quite envy these people. If love get's you there power to you, but the only really important thing is you get there.

[loli phabay]

30. no most impprtant thing is contentment, regardless if its love career or your garden

When you are content then that is true happiness. And everyone's point of contentment is different.

[orleans]

31. what crap (imo!) n/t

[B Calm]

32. I love fishing

and leisure!

[DFW]

33. Ever heard of Estelle Ramey?

She was part of an annual gathering that now includes me, although I never met her.

Every Jan. 1, before we all scatter to the four winds again, they read a quote of hers:

"I have loved. I have been loved. All the rest is background music."