Dear Arlene:

Like I wrote last: accept reality for what it is. Similar to what you wrote above, I agree with your sentiment that reaching out for love, with hope, need and desire to-love-and-be-loved-in-return is natural and universal. Many times the reaching out is met with something that is not love: from temporary affection that evaporates all the way to betrayal.

This is why it is important to study the man you reach out to as a person: learn who he is, before you reach out more, before you get way too invested, emotionally and otherwise.

anita