Is love enough??

[ColleenC]

Do you think that love alone is enough to sustain a relationship?

Okay the reason I ask is because Steve and I really do love each other ALOT. We are always holding hands, cuddling, saying I love you and just in general really love each other.

BUT I wonder if that is enough? We have almost NOTHING in common, but we do joke about it. I mean we don't like the same tv shows, movies, food, sports, books, and the list goes on....LOL I really worry that in the future when the kids are older we won't have anything in common at all and our relationship will suffer. What's funny is that our kids are exactly the same as us. Megan is just like Steve and Cris is exactly like me :lmao

What are your thoughts?

[SabrinaJL]

I would say no. But I think love, commitment and dedication to making the relationship work are.

DH and I don't have a whole lot in common either. In fact, we are almost polar opposites. But we've been together almost 15 years now, and they've been good, happy years, despite the lack of common interests.

[Kristen]

Steve and I don't share a ton of common interests, but the one main thing that we have in common is our faith. Since we have that in common, the way we approach and view life is at least similar. Without that, I feel like our relationship would be doomed.

[gr8mommy]

I think it depends upon the people who are part of the couple. If it is enough for you and Steve, it is enough.

[Kristi]

Tim and I don't have many common interests either but I have found that as long as you love each other you can work on the other things. I think love, commitment and spending lots of time together are key.

[Desirae]

ITA that it takes more than just love, though love may be what makes you willing to push through with determination, commitment and time together.

[Shana]

Love, commitment, communication and absolute dedication to making it work.

Brian and I share a lot of common interests -- we like the same music, food, movies, activities, we are pretty much twins :)

[Jejune]

I don't think just love is enough, but it sounds like you guys have commitment, too, which is more than love alone, even if it's not having a ton in common. I don't think having a lot in common is always the answer, either. But in general, I don't think love alone is enough, because a relationship takes commitment and respect and such.

[Danielle]

I would say that love alone is probably not enough but I agree with Kristen that love, paired with commitment, respect etc. can certainly be enough!

[hillsturner]

No, love is not enough. You can love someone and still do things that are detrimental to the relationship. Women who are battered and abused love their husbands. Yes, I have a chip on my shoulder from years of abuse and neglect and I thought love was enough. If I love him through _____ then everything will be all right. Love is not enough, in fact it can be down right insane if you think it is because then you put up with things that no one should ever have to deal with.

[Jo]

I don't think just love is enough, but it sounds like you guys have commitment, too, which is more than love alone, even if it's not having a ton in common. I don't think having a lot in common is always the answer, either. But in general, I don't think love alone is enough, because a relationship takes commitment and respect and such.

I absolutely agree with you. Dave and I love each other tons but I feel we have been having some problems that actually are not getting resolved. But we are committed to work though things, however long that takes....

[Beka]

I agree that it's not enough, but what is enough is impossible to exact for each couple, there is no blanket "enough" that covers all IMO.

I do think if a relationship loses the spark at any point then it's easier for it to survive/endure if there are other elements to the relationship aside from just love.

I also think it depends on what you class as love, love it such a subjective term.

For David and I, we hit a really rocky stage in our relationship when our eldest child was very young. What helped us endure was the fact we were friends first and foremost- when all was said and done I was happy to carry on living and raising a child with my friend even though we weren't in love anymore, I loved him as a friend and the father of my child but at that point we weren't in love and the fact we were 2 friends helped us rebuild. If all we'd have had was being in love then I think rebuilding would have been harder, not impossible but harder.

[Sam]

I agree with everyone else.

Love is not enough, but it helps a whole lot :)