Here are the top 10 things I’ve learned about love from the most intense 2-week love course (aka life)  I’ve ever experienced.

• Love never works the way you want it to. It has a 100% independent mind of its own. Just when you decide to know exactly who to love and why they are so good for you, you will be reminded that you, in fact, have a total of zero control over whether or not they love you back.  It’s not worth it to even start that game… it’s confusing, depressing and you rarely win. Instead, just love everyone. It’s easier that way.
• Love only runs out when you do. Things may get sticky. ‘Life’ may happen. But eventually someone or something will come along as a friendly reminder of your wonderful capacity to love. And most times that love is even greater than that which you experienced before, making you laugh at how silly you used to be.
• Love yourself first. It gives you something to fall back on when loving someone else falls through the cracks.
• Love will rock your world. We take the most important things for granted. It’s a fact. If you don’t believe me, call me next time you get sick and I’ll ask you if you took for granted every day you were healthy.  All too often, the person you miss the most is the one you’ve had all along and didn’t appreciate till they were gone.
• Love is rewarding… but only when it’s given without thought of reward.
• Every person who surrounds you is in desperate need of love. Some have been experiencing drought for so long that even the slightest drop of water helps to quench their thirst.  Others need it purely out of the habit of a steady love diet. Regardless of the situation or circumstances it’s inevitable that you’ll get hurt, taken advantage of, used or played when love is involved. Love anyway. Don’t let one solitary person or event deprive an infinite number of others of that love they so desperately need from you.
• Love hinges on attitude. Sometimes it doesn’t work out. We’ve all been there… and  yeah, it sucks. But being bitter and depressed won’t make it come back. Nobody likes a downer.  Take your time to mourn after heartbreak, but don’t wallow in eternal self pity. It does you no good. It doesn’t really help out the people who have to be around you either. Buck up, there’s a whole world out there for you to conquer. Start today!
• Love is not happiness. It’s far better to be single and happy than married and miserable. Granted it’s far better to be married and happy than single and happy, but we’re trying to keep it in perspective here people.  My point is that you can find so much happiness in your life without the stereotypical romantic Hollywood love.  Life is meant to be enjoyed. Waiting for someone else to enjoy it with is a waste of time.
• Love conquers all... or at least the hope of love does.  There are things that I do on a daily basis, things I try to achieve and live up to, that are hard… but I do them out of the hope of love in return.  Your greatest struggles can be conquered if you focus your love on something other than your own selfishness.
• Love is an adventure. Just like any adventure, most of the best memories are made along the way and not at the destination.

Thanks to those who reminded me that love is possible, wonderful, and a something worth working for.