Objective Love: "I Love Shopping"

The second type of love is called ‘Objective Love’. This love is demonstrated by phrases like, "I love that song." It is an intense affection for an object (place or thing) rather than a person. NFL fans love football. Gold medalists love the Olympics. New Yorkers love New York. Some women love shopping.

Objective Love can also be an intense affection for a feeling. It illuminates how a person can love a sensation more than they love the person who provides it. The familiar term “love jones” refers to this. It is affection for the feeling of love that transcends the desire for the lover.

It is found in the woman who enjoys the company of a man more than the man himself. It could be that her affection is for relief from being lonely more than a genuine appreciation for a particular person. She doesn't really like the guy; she just dislikes feeling lonesome. This young lady loves the comfort of having someone around. It doesn’t matter if he is a significant other or an insignificant other. Some people love to love more than they love the person with whom they are in a relationship. The enjoyment of love should not take precedence over loving people because of how hurtful it can be to the unsuspecting person involved.

To paraphrase the late, great reggae artist, Bob Marley, "The biggest coward is one who awakens love with no intention of loving in return." It is unfortunate when men and women break each others’ hearts by being unaware of the need to monitor Objective Love.

Objective Love is meant to be enjoyed, but should not be left unchecked. For example, excessive desire for fortune and other material things is unhealthy and damaging. When affection for money outweighs affection for people, dating becomes difficult and relationships weaken. This is noted in the husband who prioritizes making a living over making a life. He spends late nights and weekends pursuing wealth instead of devoting precious hours to the wife who needs him most. If not handled carefully, Objective Love can distract men and women from focusing attention and affection on what matters most: each other.