…And in the end, the Love you take is equal to the Love you make
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Valentine’s Day is well known for flowers and candy, love letters and romantic dates. Some are cynical about the nature of this holiday (I will be the first to raise my hand as guilty), yet underneath the incessant advertising and commercial branding, today truly is a moment to celebrate and understand the existence of every ounce of love in our life (Yes, I’m getting sappy). This year my life will be absent of the romantic elements, but for the first time ever I’ve discovered the value of love outside of an intimate relationship. Happy Valentine’s Day, enjoy…
Love
Love has no singular form, nor does Love maintain a constant shape. Love is an eternally changing culmination of every moment we have ever experienced. Our struggles and our victories, our prejudices and our preconceptions, our excitement and our loneliness all determine our perspective of Love.
Love is Acceptance.
Have you ever been wholly accepted by a group or individual? Do you remember how it feels? Extraordinary. There is no judgment upon strengths and weaknesses, failures, and triumphs, faults or flaws. You Love and are Loved simply for being yourself: Acceptance.
Love is Understanding.
Do you know what it feels like to be understood? When your words and actions are interpreted exactly as how you intended? Phenomenal. You feel tranquil & peaceful. When the verbal communication becomes superfluous, you’ve discovered true Love: Understanding.
Love is Appreciation.
Have you ever received a Thank You? Can you recall how it felt to know that your actions were Appreciated? Exceptional. Appreciation is a simple yet extremely potent tool when dealing with others. One small act, a thank you, a smile, a hug or a handshake can change the course of your day: Appreciation.
Love is Carefree Timelessness
Have you ever been completely consumed by a single moment or event? Immersed in such a fashion the world rotates just one-second slower? Indescribably fantastic. Every relationship thrives on this one concept. You put aside any and all thoughts other than the person or people in front of you. There is no time limit imposed, no deadlines to be met, no meetings to attend. Phone calls and text messages are effortlessly ignored. You focus your attention solely on the present. Your eyes rarely stray from the individual across from you and time appears to stand still. The outside world holds no significance. Laughter and smiles are nearly impossible to dismiss. It’s when this one idea, this one thought is accomplished that relationships develop and grow to an unimaginable level: Carefree Timelessness.
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Love is not a passive notion that mysteriously appears or disappears in the presence of the right individuals. It takes time and effort to accept, understand, and appreciate. It is the greatest reward to those willing to fight for its existence in their life. Love is a choice.
Love is that feeling that makes you smile uncontrollably. It makes you laugh until your jaw and stomach joyfully ache. It makes you forget about your problems and focus on the tribulations of others. It makes you feel capable of anything. It makes you strive to be the best possible version of yourself. It makes you feel complete. Love is the single most dominant emotion capable of inducing action within human beings; powerful beyond comprehension.
Love is the sole reason for countless poems, songs, books, and movies. They are attempts, similar to this one, to define and explain this seemingly inexplicable phenomenon of the human soul.
Some of us have found Love. Some of us are still in search of Love. Some have lost it, in hopes of finding it once again. Others feel its warmth every morning and are inexpressibly happy because of it.
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I hope everyone finds Love this Valentines Day… be it from a girlfriend or boyfriend, a husband or wife, a mom or dad, a son or daughter, a dog or cat, a friend or a stranger… in a simple gesture: a wave, a smile, a “hello”, a kiss or a hug… in a magnificent sight: a sun-soaked blue sky, a burning sunrise or sunset, a snow-capped mountain, a deep blue ocean, a calm lake or trickling stream.
What makes this all conceivable: Love for yourself. It’s impossible to give something to others in which you do not possess yourself. So take time today not only to express your Love for others, but for yourself. You are an extraordinary individual truly capable of anything… allow yourself the Carefree Timelessness to Accept, Understand, and Appreciate this simple, but extremely important fact.
Enjoy The Journey
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Photo credit: Flickr/Carlos ZGZ
This post originally appeared on Hobodrifter.com