The Meaning of Love

First, let me start out by saying that although there is a general agreed upon definition of Love among the literary community, and various sub-definitions to describe it, there is no "real" definition.  It's true that scientists have placed Love under the microscope and attempted to explain it in a hormonal and physiological sense; completely displacing the whole analytical concept and looking at it from a strictly hard science standpoint.  Yet, there is still no answer that satiates all of Love's audience and participants.

Why define Love?  Why over-analyze the definition?  Why don't we just enjoy experiencing it and not worry about the rest?  I wish it were that easy for me.  How could I know what I'm really experiencing while simultaneously not knowing what it is?  When we're in Love, most would argue, we "just know".  It is an intuitive feeling.  We just know.  My objective through my over-analytic stab at my definition of Love, however, is to explain more of the concept of Love than the definition itself.  My intention is not to preach or to convince anyone this is the "actual meaning of Love".  This is merely my attempt at accumulating my observations and experiences to formulate a better understanding for myself.

It's easy to describe everything Love isn't, right?  Well, common sense isn't so common.  Especially since emotions overpower logic and reason quite easily.  Love makes people do crazy things and there are many different types of Love.  True Love is unconditional and places all the other dysfunctional obsessions that can most often be confused for Love in a separate category. 

Where does the idea of Love come from? It evolved across time and across cultures.  Here, I'm only going to look at what applies to my generation and culture for now.  Religion plays a significant role in how we formulate our morals, values, and ethics along with family upbringing; but that's not to say that we are immune to the confounds of societal influences. Movies, sitcoms, music, celebrity romances seen as standard and subconscious role models, media/gossip, etc.  are all ingrained and deeply rooted in our minds from childhood and continues to do so.  Ever hear song lyrics that say "I need you", "I can't live without you", "you make me whole"?  How unfortunate is that to be a relationship completely dependent on the other person.   What could you possibly have to offer a relationship if you're not even a whole person?  There has got to be more to Love than completely immersing yourself and your identity in the other person/relationship. 

So what is an ideal healthy Love?    

The most common Love quote is taken directly from the Bible:
   

“Love is patient; love is kind
and envies no one.
Love is never boastful, nor conceited, nor rude;
never selfish, not quick to take offense.
There is nothing love cannot face;
there is no limit to its faith,
its hope, and endurance.
In a word, there are three things
that last forever: faith, hope, and love;
but the greatest of them all is love.”

So the question remains, "What is Love?".  Like life, it is forever changing.  I will not search for the meaning but will continue to follow what gives it meaning.  Like Socrates once said, "The unexamined life is not worth living".  To me, I have a thirst for knowledge and understanding not only the world around me, but the world I create... and the world I create is inspired by Love.

LOVE Always, Lainey

©2011 all rights reserved.

The Meaning of Love

First, let me start out by saying that although there is a general agreed upon definition of Love among the literary community, and various sub-definitions to describe it, there is no "real" definition.  It's true that scientists have placed Love under the microscope and attempted to explain it in a hormonal and physiological sense; completely displacing the whole analytical concept and looking at it from a strictly hard science standpoint.  Yet, there is still no answer that satiates all of Love's audience and participants.

Why define Love?  Why over-analyze the definition?  Why don't we just enjoy experiencing it and not worry about the rest?  I wish it were that easy for me.  How could I know what I'm really experiencing while simultaneously not knowing what it is?  When we're in Love, most would argue, we "just know".  It is an intuitive feeling.  We just know.  My objective through my over-analytic stab at my definition of Love, however, is to explain more of the concept of Love than the definition itself.  My intention is not to preach or to convince anyone this is the "actual meaning of Love".  This is merely my attempt at accumulating my observations and experiences to formulate a better understanding for myself.

It's easy to describe everything Love isn't, right?  Well, common sense isn't so common.  Especially since emotions overpower logic and reason quite easily.  Love makes people do crazy things and there are many different types of Love.  True Love is unconditional and places all the other dysfunctional obsessions that can most often be confused for Love in a separate category. 

Where does the idea of Love come from? It evolved across time and across cultures.  Here, I'm only going to look at what applies to my generation and culture for now.  Religion plays a significant role in how we formulate our morals, values, and ethics along with family upbringing; but that's not to say that we are immune to the confounds of societal influences. Movies, sitcoms, music, celebrity romances seen as standard and subconscious role models, media/gossip, etc.  are all ingrained and deeply rooted in our minds from childhood and continues to do so.  Ever hear song lyrics that say "I need you", "I can't live without you", "you make me whole"?  How unfortunate is that to be a relationship completely dependent on the other person.   What could you possibly have to offer a relationship if you're not even a whole person?  There has got to be more to Love than completely immersing yourself and your identity in the other person/relationship. 

So what is an ideal healthy Love?    

The most common Love quote is taken directly from the Bible:
   

“Love is patient; love is kind
and envies no one.
Love is never boastful, nor conceited, nor rude;
never selfish, not quick to take offense.
There is nothing love cannot face;
there is no limit to its faith,
its hope, and endurance.
In a word, there are three things
that last forever: faith, hope, and love;
but the greatest of them all is love.”

So the question remains, "What is Love?".  Like life, it is forever changing.  I will not search for the meaning but will continue to follow what gives it meaning.  Like Socrates once said, "The unexamined life is not worth living".  To me, I have a thirst for knowledge and understanding not only the world around me, but the world I create... and the world I create is inspired by Love.

LOVE Always, Lainey

©2011 all rights reserved.