Editing Openai/6934620d-9fec-8009-ad46-13fb148486ad (section)

=== Assistant: Good—this is the real question beneath everything you said. ===
Good—this is the real question beneath everything you said.

Here’s the cleanest, no-romance, no-poetry definition:

: 

Let’s break that down simply:

===== Feelings: =====
* Come and go
* Rise with novelty
* Die with boredom, stress, conflict

If love were only a feeling, your entire argument would be 100% correct—and relationships would be impossible long-term.

===== Love is: =====
* Choosing not to abandon when it’s inconvenient
* Choosing not to exploit when you could
* Choosing not to betray when attraction appears elsewhere
* Choosing to care even when you’re annoyed, disappointed, or tired

This is why:
* Love can exist without excitement
* Love can feel boring but stable
* Love can survive dry emotional phases

===== You’re right that: =====
* People often love because it feels good
* Because it fulfills ego
* Because it gives status or security

But real love is when care continues even when those rewards disappear.

That’s the separating line.

===== Here’s the test I personally use—no philosophy, pure logic: =====

: 

If yes → love
If no → attachment, convenience, fear, ego, or habit

===== : =====

Not romance.
Not obsession.
Not sacrifice drama.
Just steady, voluntary, imperfect commitment.

If you want, I can also break this into:
* Romantic love
* Parental love
* Self-love Each works slightly differently—but the core principle stays the same.