Define: Love.

[Another one of my MySpace blog transfers =)...]


How do you define "love"?

Merriam-Webster says "a strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties; affection and tenderness felt by lovers; affection based on admiration, benevolence, or common interests; an object of warm attachment, enthusiasm, or devotion."
…But is this a term that can be defined? And by who is it defined? How can anyone put a description to the word? Perhaps it's the stereotype- or what people expect love to look like, or feel like. The media tries to give us ideas of what it should be- question what you're absorbing. Critical thinking is key! Develop your own morals...
Then there is infatuation. How do you know the difference between infatuation and love? They are defined very similarly and to try and distinguish the two is like trying to teach a newborn to walk. Who decides what is love, or what is infatuation? When you tell a person you truly care about that you love them- what do you think of when you say it? My perception of the word- as I think of it (without really thinking about it…if that makes any sense)- is someone you can laugh with, share similar hobbies or interests, always thinking of ways to make them happy, a steadfast, intense kind of friendship that simply means so much more, getting that "the-whole-world-stops" feeling when you're with that special someone, feeling completely and utterly devoted, faithful.
How do you value a relationship? Love does not make you feel miserable, rushed, uncomfortable, bored, hated, or (God forbid) sad. If the person you "loved" changed in their appearance- would you still "love" them for their personality? If I were ever to put together a dictionary, I would have to halt when it came to the "L's". Who gave me the right to define love? Is my definition of it similar to every else's? There has to be some sanctity in the person who can compile the words to define such a precious, indescribable word.
How do you know when it is the right time to tell a person you love them? Does anyone know? Obviously, a phrase like that should not be taken lightly- a word that is too extraordinary for description. It is simply a state of unspeakable happiness. Of course, back to reality now- no one can really be on "cloud 9," as such a place does not exist- it is simply a metaphor. I like to use to terms "ineffable ecstasy", or a "thing of untellable splendor." How on earth could you really give a good, plausible explanation for such a word? Every other word in the English dictionary seems accounted for.
Now here is a kicker: try putting it into an analogy! For example: book is to read, as television is to watch, as love is to….as love is to…*thinking*, *pondering*, *sighs*. Hm. Where do you go from there? Not only that, but just because you love someone, doesn't mean they love you back, at least not yet. Though you feel it, they may not. Then again…they might. When is the right time to say it? Timing is everything. You just might spend all this time considering proclaiming it, but worrying that they might not feel the same- but then again, they might be thinking the same just as you are. You feel it camping out on your tongue and exploding from your heart, but the fear of rejection overwhelms a nervous soul.
True love never turns out to be abusive or makes you cry more than you smile. Love can take over your whole life if you are not careful. Let it not take you over, but become a part of who you are. When you think about the person you love it should make you want to be a better person, for them. Would you bend over backwards for them? It should be somewhat like the innocence of a child: uninterrupted, and inexplicable.
So no, I cannot define it- no one can- nevertheless has the right to. It is up to you to take the initiative to define it for yourself. Make love a choice. Don't love your family because that is what is expected, don't love Christ because the Bible says so, don't love your friends because media says you should- love is by choice! Remember it is an unconditional, forgiving, grace filled emotion that is relentless yet undefined.

"Love: We think about it, dream about it, lose sleep worrying about it. When we don't have it, we search for it and when we discover it we don't know what to do with it. We fear losing it. It is the source of all pleasure and pain but we can't predict which it will be from one moment to the next. It's a short word...easy to spell...difficult to define...and yet, somehow, impossible to live without."


<3



~H3