What is love?
In light of Valentine’s Day, people discuss a number of love-themed questions: How do you know when you’re in love? Do you believe in love? Who do you love? The potential answers are muddled because many aren’t able to answer an even more basic question: what exactly is this abstract concept that we are talking about? It’s a word that standing alone evokes countless definitions, and makes up one third of one of the heaviest phrases in our vocabulary, which we will surely see casually slapped onto candies and cards all this week. We know how it makes us feel, we know what it means to us, but what is it? What is love?
It’s the kind of word that invokes laughable dictionary definitions: “an intense feeling of deep affection” or “a strong positive emotion of regard.” Just more words. Like in the oft-seen chain email about children’s definitions of love, it can be as simple as “when mommy gives daddy the best piece of chicken.” It can be non-romantic, found in the loyalty of a pet. And often it is anything but positive, as Noah, even in a story as fantastical as our generation’s “The Notebook”, screams at Allie, “I’m not afraid to hurt your feelings.” It seems no dictionary can possibly pin down the nuances of love. So we ask what real people, with real-life definitions, define as love. What’s your definition?
Love, in families, friendships and relationshups, is when you trust someone enough to let them be totally honest, and sometimes hurt your feelings.
i agree with ali… but it is also at a point where you too are completely honest knowing that through your honesty you can get hurt… or even hurt others, but you care about the other person enough that the end seems to justify the means
Love can be one of the most euphoric feelings human beings can feel. there are so many things within the definition, but in my opinion, it’s just the summation of how others make you feel love/d. it’s different for all of us, but similar in many regards.
Mutual respect and acceptance. Making room for them in your life. Working for their happiness, not just your own. Commitment, more than just “I do.”
That’s what I’ve seen from my parents who’ve been married for more than 30 years. Now I just want to know why it’s so hard to find…
To me, love is an arbitrary term. I don’t really know what it means, but to tell you the truth I don’t really care. When I love someone, be it a parent, friend or boyfriend, I know by the way I act and think. Love is whatever you believe it is. I think love is a feeling, and it is a different feeling for everyone.
I think in its purest and simplest form, love is the recognition of the value and dignity owed to human life.
love is when you care so much about someone else, that you feel his/her emotions. when that person is upset, you become upset until you can make them feel better. when that person is happy, you share in the happiness.
Iris Murdoch, the British novelist, said: “Love is the difficult realization that something other than oneself is real.”
And I think her definition of such a complication term is extraordinarily profound.
A fun song by Haddaway best known from the movie “ANight at the Roxbury”
I think love is an unselfish affection for another individual and a desire to build them up.
