Love vs Like

I was blessed to grow up in that that legendary time when teachers taught and disciplined. Not only the subject but they also attempted to guide students to common sense and logic, along with what it was like out in the world in those days where entitlement and empowerment didn't exist you had to pull your own weight. Something reminded me today of a teacher and what he said. This man was a WW II veteran. Ram rod straight and to my high school eyes appeared tough as nails. I still remember his favorite sayings " if I say it try to remember it, if I say it twice try harder and if I write it on the board it's on the test" was one and the other was " if you throw something at the garbage can it's an hour detention, but I award accuracy so if you make it it's only a 1/2 hour.". Well this next piece of his wisdom has stuck with me for over 35 years. His daughter was getting married and he came in and announced it to the class, as usual the girls oohed and aahed and the boys rolled their eyes standard for a high school class. Then came the wisdom. One of the girls asked what he said to his daughter, his reply shut up the classroom, he said he asked his daughter if she liked the guy. She said she loved him. To which he replied that's nice but do you like him? She said what difference does it make I love him. He said people fall in and out of love every day, people don't fall in and out of like. You can grow to love someone if you like them. Just because you love someone doesn't mean you like them or ever will. In his mind liking someone will get you through the tough times. Love on the other hand is such a strong emotion and there is just a thin line between it and hate.Over the years I've come to think he was totally correct and if that little gem had been passed around and people actually followed it Dr Phil, e-harmony and the rest that genre wouldn't exist and more then half the divorce lawyers would need real jobs.