Love, in the english language, is like snow for the Inuit. There are stories that the Inuit have hundreds of different words for snow and some say as little as 50. Love is similar. On Valentine’s Day, we’re supposed to celebrate our loved one, our spouse, girlfriend, or boyfriend. I love my wife and I love the life we have together, but I also believe we’re at a moment in history when it’s imperative to talk about the many meanings of love.
I love our little daughter in a way I cannot even begin to put into words. It’s a beautiful thing and I’m sure many of you whom are parents feel the same about your children. There is an inexplicable sensation about the parent child bond. To parents, their child is the cutest one around. This completely makes sense because when they begin to grow up they learn how to test your patience. And you still love them.
Devotional love or loving your god is an incredible form of love. I’ve seen amazing things happen that people attribute to god. It’s very prevalent in sports. Champions will thank God for getting them there and giving them the courage to push through adversity.
On the other hand, people will accept situations that most people believe are repugnant. For instance, homelessness, or settling for less than ideal living conditions, health, relationships, jobs, and more. At times, the love for one’s God allows people to accept these situations because they believe, “God has a plan.” That may very well be true, but it’s also important to make sure you’re taking action. Nevertheless, some people surrender to circumstances because of their faith and devotion.
For me love takes the form of expression as well. Love is about being considerate to others. When I go out of my way to help someone in need I may not love that person specifically, but the act is out of a love for my fellow human.
Empathy is a form of love. When someone near you is going through a rough time, give them a shoulder to lean on. That is an act of love.
Love is acceptance. It’s important to accept someone else’s view regardless of your own beliefs. This is not to say that you must agree, but if you disagree, the only way to learn from each other is through acceptance.
Ultimately, love is about coming together. This kind of love is needed now more than ever. Coming together with our fellow man and listening to what she believe’s and why he’s getting passionate. It’s so important for the healing of our world. I know this may seem like an impossible task with all the different beliefs, religions, and philosophies around, but we must make it happen. Our future depends on it.
We must never give up the fight to bring each other together and to find common bonds. We are better together, we are stronger together, and most importantly, we will thrive together.
I’ll leave you with one action item: lead with love. When you have an opportunity, do something loving. When you’re posting to social media, or writing your blog, make it come from a place of love. When you’re at work, at home, or out in the world, look deep into someone’s eyes and feel that soul connection. That’s a form of love. See how that feels for you. I bet it starts to melt away some angst and conflict. Then start doing more and more of that! Let me know how it goes. My hope for you, your family, and all humanity is that we do lead with love, that we do heal our wounds, and ultimately work together for a better, happier future. Happy belated Valentine’s Day.
Originally published on the author’s website.
