BACK IN THE EARLY DAYS OF MY SEARCH FOR ENLIGHTENMENT OR NIRAVNA, I PICKED UP A BOOK ENTITLED "THE ART OF LOVING" BY ERICH FROMM. OKAY, YES IT WAS THE SHORTEST BOOK ON THE BOOK SHELF. READING WAS NEVER ONE OF MY STRONG SUITS. DON'T EVER EXPECT TO FIND "WAR AND PEACE" ON MY NIGHT STAND. C'MON TOLSTOY, COULDN'T YOU HAVE JUST DONE "WAR" AND MADE :PEACE" THE SEQUEL? AND STILL YOU COULD HAVE REMOVED HALF THE PAGES AND PUT SOME PICTURES IN THERE. ANYWAY, FROMM WROTE THAT THERE ARE 4 BASIC ELEMENTS TO LOVE, CARE, RESPOSIBILITY, RESPECT, AND KNOWLEDGE. HE SAID THAT LEARNING TO LOVE WAS HARD WORK AND LEARNING SELF LOVE WAS ESSENTIAL. BY THIS HE DID NOT MEAN IT IN A NARCISTIC WAY, "OH, I'M SO WONDERFUL". BUT RATHER LEARNING SELF CARE, RESPONSIBILTY FOR ONESELF, SELF RESPECT, AND SELF KNOWLEDGE. THIS MEANS ALSO LEARNING YOUR STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES SO YOU CAN BE AWARE OF THEM WHEN THEY POP UP. THE LAST CHAPTER DEALT WITH THE PRACTICE OF LOVE WHICH MEANS EXERCISING DISCIPLE, CONCENTRATION, AND PATIENCE  IN EVERY ASPECT OF YOUR LIFE.

IT IS SOMETIMES DIFFICULT FOR ME TO REMEMBER THAT EVERYONE, JUST LIKE ME, IS ON THEIR OWN UNIQUE AND SPECIAL JOURNEY ON THIS EARTH. IT IS EASY TO WANT SOMEONE TO BE AND DO WHAT IS BEST FOR ME. BUT LOVE REQUIRES US TO ACCEPT THAT THE OTHER PEOPLE HAVE TO FOLLOW THEIR JOURNEY AND IT MAY BE DIFERENT THAN OUR PERCIEVED WANTS OR NEEDS.

I'D LIKE TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR SHARING PART OF MY JOURNEY WITH ME.