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I know of only one duty and that is to love.
At first glance this Camus quote seems strange to me. I mean who would think that love or loving is a duty? Isn’t love a feeling that springs up over time? A luxury afforded those closest to us?
Perhaps it is true for romantic love, but even then, over the long haul such feelings of first attraction dissipate. Don’t they?
No, if anything, love is an act of one’s will. We must choose love over and over again. Often love is not even the easiest choice. Nor is it, or rather should it be, limited to only those who are closest to us. Most times the easy choice is to focus on our own interests, to turn our backs on those who need love the most.
I believe it’s fear that makes us put ourselves ahead of others. And in many ways fear has the opposite affect of love. Fear divides, where love binds us together. Fear says every man for himself where love says no man left behind. Fear builds walls to keep others out, where love builds bridges of inclusion.
~ DIANA’S ENORMOUS BOOK OF QUOTES ~
talktodiana 
To love is a fearful thing. But we surpass the fear the more we love. Thanks for your wonderful words here. 💚
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Great way to put it – thanks! ❤
Diana xo
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Love is definitely the best over fear. Lovely post my friend!
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Thanks Ute! ❤
Diana xo
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Truth and wisdom Diana. ❤ The things we do in the name of fear, vs, what we do in love…..You described it so eloquently.
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Thanks so much Colleen! ❤
Diana xo
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agreed ❤
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I knew you would! ❤
Diana xo
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May we all choose love over fear. Thank you Diana ❤️
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Yes. Amen to that Val. ❤
Diana xo
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So very well put, Diana. You are an amazing philosopher. Love is always a risk worth taking.
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Thank you so much. Risk does come with love, doesn’t it? ❤
Diana xo
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It is a choice Diana. I practice my disciplines each day so I can choose more easily. Wonderful post 💚🙏🏻
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Practice makes perfect Karen. ❤
Diana xo
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Very Good post Diana.
Love isn’t that which brings two people together, but, rather, that which keeps them together.
On that obscure hill in Calvary two thousand years ago, fear was evident at the foot of the cross begging Christ to come down. Love was evident when He hung there.
-Alan
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That is beautiful Alan. ❤
Diana xo
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A post after my own heart Diana.
For me, no matter the question, the situation, the opportunity, Love is always the answer.
It can be so freeing to ask myself, “What would love do here?” And then do that — that way, fear, greed, and other limiting factors don’t have a chance to over-shadow my choice.
Beautiful post Diana. Thanks.
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I love the question you ask yourself Louise. Thanks for sharing it here and thank you for the way you exemplify love in your everyday life. ❤
Diana xo
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It doesn’t feel like a duty but it is definitely a privilege to read posts I love, like this one. ❤
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Thank you so much my dear Ann. ❤
Diana xo
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I have begun to realise that love is more of a decision than a feeling (in so many ways and so many contexts). My love for my son, for example, has been sorely tested recently; he has become unbearably negative and angry and horrible! So I have to just decide to maintain my love for him even when I don’t feel it – argh!
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Oh I hear you Julie. I used to tell my daughter, “I love you, but it’s hard to like you today.” I said it this way because I wanted her to know I always love her, but now that I think of it, it’s not a very loving thing to say either…
You and Ming have a lot on your plate, it is not surprising that you might occasionally rub each other the wrong way. But one thing is clear to me after years of reading your blog. You, Ants and Ming are bound together in love. ❤
Diana xo
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It seems so simple yet so hard. Why does it seem easier to fear than to love?
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I don’t know April. Maybe greed has a little to do with. If we give it away (as love dictates) than someone else has more than us??? ❤
Diana xo
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Maybe it’s vulnerability. You’re right, in order to love we have to give. Maybe we’re afraid of love not being reciprocated. ❤
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and truth is sometimes it is not April, but I wonder, should that stop me from loving. I don’t think so. ❤
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I don’t think so either ❤
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We’ll put, dear friend Diana. You are so right about love. ❤ It starts like a wave over your head and then ebbs and flows like the tides affected by your brain as much as your heart.
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Mark I like that: “it starts like a wave over your head…” That is definitely true of romantic love, isn’t it? ❤
Diana xo
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Yes, dear Diana, I think so!
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