"When you fall in love, you feel your heart flutter, beat loudly, or leap for joy; when you are rejected your heart breaks. You are called 'heartless' or 'cold-hearted' when you show no care or love, 'big-hearted' when you extend your concern to others. When someone becomes your heart's desire you have 'heartfelt' feelings. You 'take things to heart' when they are emotionally evocative, or 'talk heart to heart' about deeply personal issues. You love someone 'from the bottom of your heart,' but are only 'half-hearted' about something when you are not emotionally involved. More importantly, it has to be a red heart, as seen in the thousands of valentine's cards sent each year. Red is the color of love — a dozen roses do not have quite the same impact if they are yellow — yet few people realize this color is also the color of blood.
"However, love rarely flows smoothly. Inevitably, in one way or another we all experience childhood conflicts, abuse, hurt, or loss, and if the pain is too big to deal with we lock it away inside. This serves to lock you out of your heart so that your ability to express your loving feelings is limited. If you become isolated from love, you become mistrustful, uncaring, shallow, hateful, prejudiced, and fearful. You also become closed to your own need for love.
"Many boys are raised not to show their feelings, but to appear brave and strong. In adult life that can mean they are unable to express gentleness, caring, or nurturing qualities. Fear closes your heart so you are unable to feel love, as when you close your arms and pull back in defense. Love comes from the open heart, as when you fearlessly open your arms and embrace all. As Gerald Jampolsky said, 'Love is letting go of fear.'
"From the heart all your passion, adoration, devotion, fear, anger, hurt, desire, yearning, gratitude, and joy are expressed: through your mouth with words and intonation and kissing; through your shoulders, arms, and hands when you hug, hold, caress, or push away; and through your sexuality, by caring and sharing."
