What is the best way to show someone you love them?

Beautiful!  I love it when you say it like it is, brother.  Thank you!

Good one Jon.  I rather wish we'd bumped into each other at the shopfront now rather than 8 years ago…  I like to witness my own learning and progress in this regard - yours too… love, Tam

Right on ! Showing Love= as in caring enough (as always, caring for our own selves first ) to consistently show up in all colors of presence &  authenticity . With an over-abundance of shopfronts touting blatant superficiality I wonder where one finds such rare-bird “emotional warriors with enough capacity for Truth & willingness to commit ” – so much fear, pain & distrust that many prefer lonliness– even within relationship!

Great stuff Jon.  And Victoria, you said, “so much fear, pain & distrust that many prefer lonliness- even within relationship!”  I'm not sure the word is prefer rather than “settle.”  I'll not compromise the authentic self for an-other.  There is not other.  What I desire is:

authentic self MEETS authentic self … I'm sure rare but rich.

You know Jon, there was a time when I thought I was missing out on the 'stuff', meaning the flowers, the candy etc. Then I realised I would get this stuff after somebody effed up, like some kind of a guilt thing… and it became clear how many people lean on these things as substitutes to the real thing, that they can't actually bring that preciousness from within them, or perhaps better said, they are fearful to go 'there'…

I would take one ounce of honest, authentic care and concern over all the trivial expressions of 'loving' that the world has put up there. At least then I get to be myself and receive it also.

Thanks so much for this elaboration. It was very beautifully done.

Friend, SC

[Check out Stevie tributes here, here and here… so far : )  Such a great idea John…]

it's important to be real… but there is nothing wrong with flowers sent at exactly the right time, or chocolates, or whatever… as long as it's real xx

You have quite the mind, my friend….authenticity, that's a good thing–really giving oneself.
blessings to you,
CG

Jon of Joy, - enjoying the unique mix of your razorsharp observational skills &
übersophisticated panther-like adaptness in the world of metaphors is a delight
as ever, though with due respect, something is slightly amiss; no rumpy-pumpy?

I agree with them therapists who say there are no things but relationships;
I think they also say you might as well stick with the same one, because it
will be the same shit hitting the fan over & over anyway (can't for the life of me
remember their names right now, but it's the Imagothingie they work with, ya?)

- Anyway, it sure is the same thing over & over in the one essential relationship,
the one we are having with ourselves & there is not really the option of  dramas,
stomping out & slamming of doors; the beast will glare os back in da face when
we decide to go look in the mirror again, so we do need to get real about what we
are seeing if it's going to be of any use to use when we let another be our mirror.

I do believe, that for us to be authentic in the presence of the one we choose to love,
we must  be able to embrace the beast in the mirror beforehand; And no amount of
honesty & authenticity is gonna get us there without at least the equal helpings of chutzpaaah! - because it is scary business, terrifying actually, even though we
know that we can run, but we can't hide & we might as well just get on with it..

And of course we want someone to be there with us, to hold our hand & make us
feel safe & in the name of love we do believe we can do it together & maybe we
can do just that.. with a truckload of chutzpah that is.. ;-)

love, laughter & lightness tara <3

ahh love in the trenches of the soul……..is there anywhere else to really experince something so wordless…….solitare

Jon come on and hurry up! Nicole is right!

Its the same koan -
 First there is chocolate (mountain, flowers etc etc)
Then there is no chocolate (mountain, flowers, mindgarbage, passion)
Then there is chocolate (mountain, passion, flowers etc,)

And this lovely third stage thingamabob has Action and Passion, Of course!

It is somewhat contained, like Austin Powers mojo, in yer own bottle!

And we all lived mindfully ever after! :)

now I'm aware that Im painting with very broad strokes with this, but one thing I do recognize with this site is that it can be in a very large part a mutual adulation society, where any manner of reflection on the human conndition is nearly unconditionally lauded provided its clothed in language that is suitably obtuse to smack of metaphysical insight.  Given that critics can be of one of two ilks-constructive and destructive, I would hope this post be viewed with the intent I tender it in…constructive.  There is something in the way individuals write when attempting to come across as “new-agey” and “saturated in satori” that sounds, well, inauthentic.  This post resonated with me of someone trying just a wee too hard to sound tuned in.  When someone protesteth too much, it reads as such to someone with a critical eye.

Amazing. 

…& GAIAS, too !