Is there a definition of love?
In my opinion, many people misunderstand what true love truly is. We often face the question, "What is love, or are you in love?" If you search online, you'll find countless definitions that seem to provide an answer. I propose we stop trying to define love as merely a "thing," "word," or "definition." Love encompasses your feelings towards various aspects of life, including yourself, your partner, the earth, a good book, or a delicious meal. While many associate love with a romantic relationship, which is certainly valid, I am writing this blog to explore love in all facets of our lives. As we celebrate PRIDE month in June, I want to acknowledge the LGBTQ+ community. I've been an Ally to this community for several years. Growing up in a small town near Pittsburgh, I believed love was solely about having a boyfriend and being in love, without considering love for myself or other things. When I moved to NYC, I felt unsure of how to behave or where I belonged. I was quite reserved during my first year, as forming genuine friendships can be challenging here. However, I soon became part of the LGBTQ+ community, and my wonderful friends taught me to embrace my true self, to love myself for who I am, and not to let anyone dictate otherwise. Those words resonated with me and are part of why I am who I am today. Being an outsider in NYC and having these incredible individuals help me discover my identity was truly remarkable. They hardly knew me yet welcomed me and helped illuminate the Amanda within me. To these amazing people (naming you all would make this blog ten pages long), I am eternally grateful, and you will always be a part of my life. I love you. That, to me, is a form of love.
Love originates from various sources, such as friends and family, but try to view it from a different perspective. That's how I gained insight—by seeing love in every part of life. The lovely garden you pass by, that can be love. The stranger who smiles at you, that can be love. The sun shining on a beautiful day, that can be love. We often get caught up in daily routines, the hustle, the stress. We tend to focus on the negative because complaining is easier. This is your opportunity to notice other things in your life, your chance to "define" what love means to you. For me, love is all around—my family, my amazing boyfriend, my friends, the sunshine, yoga, sleeping in on weekends, winning a $10 lottery ticket. All the good things around me represent love. Love is choosing someone or something over everything else, over your ego, over yourself every day. By choosing over yourself, I mean that when you love deeply, it will reflect back as self-love, as you commit to someone or something wonderful. That feeling will make you look in the mirror and radiate with love and happiness for yourself. So, remember to keep an eye on that, as it truly is a euphoric feeling. Love for what it is, without judgment or assumptions, just appreciate what you choose to love and invest your whole heart into it. This will make your journey in life amazing, and your love will guide others on a wonderful journey as well.
So live. Embrace vulnerability. Take chances. Get hurt in the process because it signifies you're truly alive and living. Learn from your errors. Improve in loving everyone. Tell people you love them, show them your love. Show Mother Nature your affection. Love is available for free every day and isn't going out of style anytime soon. My hope for you all is to love a bit more after reading this—not that you don’t already love, but perhaps love something you hadn't considered before. It could be as simple as the cereal you eat in the morning. Love doesn't always have to be directed towards your partner. Of course, that's a significant part of a relationship. I often tell my boyfriend I love him, and I truly do. But for me, it's the actions—caring for him, being there, leaving silly notes, accepting him for who he is, and showing compassion for him over myself. That's my definition of love. Demonstrating love through actions towards someone or something in your life is a crucial step in your wellbeing and journey. So let's take a moment to say "I love you" to the people we appreciate and everything wonderful around us. We only have one life, so let's spread all the love we can!
“To have never loved is simply to have never lived, so give it your all, scream it from the mountain tops, love all, because we are here to live!”
MUCH LOVE
XOXO
Beautiful message😍