I think it means something unique to everyone, though it has some universal qualities. To me, it means "I appreciate you the way you are and wouldn't change a thing about you. I want to be there for you, protect you, laugh with you, cry with you"

Or at least, that is what I mean when I say it.

In my experience it means "I want to get laid". Or possibly "I have expectations and/or conditions" Zen ?

It is not just a different meaning to each person, it means many different things to each person and varies by the moment. For most it is a warm fuzzy feeling inside that can fade or sexual attraction which rarely lasts either. 'I love me and want to use you to feel better about myself.' People are in love with the idea of love.

From a parent, ideally it would consistantly mean 'I will always be there for you no matter what you do.' (support, not to rescue from problem) 'I accept you as a valuable person' I don't think anyone can claim to understand love but we can work on developing a greater capacity to give and receive love.

I think you are saying that you have never experienced love. Maybe not respect or acceptance either. I am sorry this has happened to you. I learned love from loving pet, later from my children. You will have a greater appreciation for love that you must work to understand than the person that has love without effort. It is worth the effort.

From a romantic husband/wife perspective I have no idea what it means anymore. People ask me if I still love my husband and I feel like they might as well be asking me to scoop up the wind and show it to them. It doesn't make any sense any more. I love my children and I know that because I would do anything, ANYTHING including sacrificing my safety and health to ensure theirs. I refuse to do that any more for my husband. I thought I loved him.

To say "I love you" to me means you value this person as the person they are. You have respect for them and their opinions. You will stand beside them in good times and bad without intentionally hurting them or judging them.

I am sorry that some people take these three words for granted or use them freely. The problem with someone saying I love you many times means they look at you as belonging to them as in ownership which leads to very unhealthy boundaries.

I am still trying to figure it out sorry :(

"I love you" is a phrase symbolic of the love shining out of your mate's eyes, or the way his/her face lights up with a beaming smile when they see you, of little things done to help your life on its way (from a cup of tea to defrosting the car) just cos they know it helps you. Knowing they are there for you.

I am thankful I have found this - but it took 40 years! WHAT a difference!

I read a post once that stated;

Love is pretty simple. If you can help someone, you will. If you can hurt someone, you won't.

That is overly simplistic but it gets the basic point across. When you love someone, you want the best for them and will do what you can to make things better for them and will avoid doing things that will hurt them.

I think love can mean one thing to me and something different for another,but in the end the needs and feelings of most human beings are the same.(my opinion only).So "I love you",to me means knowing the person who said it will never try to hurt me intentionally,Will consider my feelings ahead of thier own,Will laugh with me and never at me,Will never be jealous or envious of any good that is bestowed upon me and will always be there and supportive unconditionaly.

Well, I am learning that when I say I love you, I must love me first, and be able to keep personal boundaries. I think the meaning of love is that we allow others to be themselves, without degrading them, giving them personal space while not allowing them to invade ours. Respecting each other as a person with their own free will.

I had abuse from birth to 25 Love is supposedly unconditional HA HA HA

To quote my favorite movie "Love means never having to say you're sorry."
Love, to me, means that you care about someone, you want to protect them, you want them to protect you. It means that you care about what happens to them, and that you will be there for them as long as you live.
To me, love isn't something with a meaning, it's just something that you feel throughout your whole existence that lets you know, there's a reason to be here.

Here is a quote that I really like...

"Love is giving someone the ability to hurt you and trusting them not to."

I hope and pray that you find what real love is. I also hope it helps to heal your pain.

MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND GIVE YOU COMFORT, PEACE AND LOVE.

Your friend,

Lisa xx
abusehurts

I really don't know. My worst abusers tell me they love me. My father sexually abused me, he did and still does (i still live with my parents, i'm a minor) tells me he loves me. my mother also abuses me yet tells me she loves me. they expect me to say it back yet i know i don't mean it because love requires some sort of, of trust or something along those lines. i think. yet i do love them. but they continue to hurt me. i don't know. i guess i'm as confused as you are.

I would love to ask the filthy people who told me that what they meant when they said that to me, one word that comes to mind more so than others is "unconditional"