Love

Ever since we were young, the most common thing we have heard of is love. In this world of mass information, if there is one thing that every person has heard of, that is love. We grow up listening to various types of love stories, watching movies about it and reading about it. But do we really know what it is???
This is not just it. There is no such feeling which we can actually define, whether it is happiness or sadness. But the thing is, we normally know the reason why we are happy,sad,angry or anything. But no one can tell why we feel love. Is it permanent?? People say that true love is permanent. But is the fact that the feeling stays the rest of your life true? We all know that feelings are not permanent. Feelings change with time. I suppose, so does love. But why do some people say that love never dies??
Every one of us feel love for so many people around us. We love our mom, dad, siblings, friends and spouse and girlfriend/boyfriend. Sometimes we love someone because we have no other choice. Sometimes we have the choice. So when we have this choice, do we actually love all of them??
I am not going to go for a massive explanation here, for I don't know what it is either. My chain of thoughts lead me to a few beliefs about it.
It is well heard that love is the absence of hatred. Maybe it is the absence of hatred. For one cannot forever stay in what they define as "love". Maybe we love everyone. Maybe its just that, like any other emotion, it highlights itself or vanishes, according to the course of happenings around that person.
I also believe that love is present where there is respect. Maybe you don't hate a person, but doesn't mean that you feel affection towards them. Love has to be in a place with no hatred, with respect and affection. You can love a person only if the flaws in them are not visible to you and the good things about them are magnified to you. So, if this state of things are permanent, you can call it true love, no matter who the person may be, your father,mother,sibling or anyone, as it'll stay forever.