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Love, creates a dilemma for Americans. In some ways, love is the quintessential expression of individuality and freedom. At the same time, it offers intimacy, mutuality and sharing.
In the ideal love relationship, these two aspects of love are perfectly joined love is both absolutely free and completely shared. Such moments of perfect harmony among free individuals are rare, however.
The sharing and commitment in a love relationship can seem, for some, to swallow up the individual, making them lose sight of their own interests, opinions and desires.
Paradoxically, since love is supposed to be a spontaneous choice by free individuals, someone who has 'lost' themselves cannot really love, or cannot contribute to a real love relationship. Losing a sense of one's self may also lead to being exploited, or even abandoned by the person one loves.
Photo by Jeffree Benet