Love

The most amazing thing about love, is that we're constantly learning about what really goes into it each and every day of our lives as we interact with other people. We all know the clichés about love; flowers, chocolates, "being there" for each other" or what have you. But above all, what I know about it so far is that it's a journey and it's a process. There are a few different kinds of love that I've experienced in my life, and though each type fills me with some sort of happiness, it's all different. Obviously the love you experience from family is different from the general sense of romantic love you would find in a significant other, and the love you feel from friends in turn is different as well. But the one thing that all the different types of love give me, is strength and purpose. It reminds me of the good things in life and remains a light in a world that can seem very dark at times. There are a lot of things that go into love, but I would argue that the littlest things can have the biggest impact. Small acts of kindness that show that you care, whether it be between family, friends, or romantic partners, have the most amazing power to completely turn a bad day around and give you the strength to keep on going. I've had days when I thought things couldn't have gotten worse, and then received a call or text from someone simply asking how I'm doing and that was enough to give me a second wind to make it through the day. However, I've also learned that love isn't just the good things, love can be hard. People are naturally flawed and conflict, even with someone you couldn't imagine yourself fighting with, is bound to happen at some point. If you really love someone, part of that process is putting in the effort to make it through those inevitable rough patches. I've fought with family, and friends in the past, but more often than not, the relationships have weathered the storm. It's never easy, but nothing worth having ever is, especially those relationships. Another big part of love, in my opinion, is the aspect of growth. When people really love each other, they will ultimately bring out the best in one another and help them to grow as individuals. I've witnessed a few relationships where the two people didn't help each other grow, rather they developed an unhealthy dependence on each other. What was supposed to be a source of empowerment, was instead a crutch for each of the parties involved and to me that kind of unhealthy dependence isn't what love should be about. The most important thing about love is the desire to see the individual that you love grow. It's the desire to see them happy and flourishing. It's bringing out the best in one another, whether it be during good times or difficult times. Love is about learning, not only about the individual in question, but in turn learning about yourself through them. Aside from all the clichés and difficulties, love is what makes life worth living. It's a crucial part of the human experience and a blessing to all those fortunate enough to have it.