School of Thought: Love

Love is a generic word. It is a taboo subject. We speak about it as if it were a simple concept or a straightforward lesson that everyone has been taught to understand from a young age. We repeat the phrase “I love you” to friends, family, and significant others so often that the feeling associated with it becomes diluted with knowledge and intellect, as opposed to genuine emotion and spirit. Love is an ideal that we sell in movies and shopping centers, which results in the youth growing up to be love-starved and confused. Love is an enigma, but even the greatest paradoxes can be better understood through dialogue.

People have been trying to define love since the evolution of pictographs, but its meaning is always diminished. I am not sure if it is even possible to accurately describe what love really is, but I do think there is value in giving it our best try. Love is more than romance, blood, or even forgiveness. Love is existence. It is transparent. It is clear to see through actions and body language when it is present. It does not require intellect because it is intuitive. Love transcends culture and unites differences, but it is not as straightforward as it may seem. People believe that there are many forms of love, but is this actually true? What is the difference between familial love, romantic love, forgiving love, empathetic love, love that is borne out of similar interests or experiences? Can you define the difference? Is one greater or more valuable than another? In one of my all time favorite books, A Return to Love, Marianne Williamson proposes that there is actually only one love. Every “type” of love stems from the same source, and the mere act of categorizing love is simply a repetition of the forced separation of humanity that we see on a daily basis.

Don’t get me wrong, ONE LOVE sounds brilliant in principle, but is it actually obtainable for everyday people? In the midst of living our busy lives, is it possible to reprogram our schemas pertaining to love, and genuinely only feel a single type of love for everyone and everything? I mean, consider your own life. Do you love your mother with the same passion that you have for your lover? What about that coworker that always has your back, or the stranger that was patient enough to let you merge during rush hour traffic? Can you honestly say that you love all of these individuals equally? If not, could you? If yes, please… show me your ways!!

Regardless if you agree that the categorization of love is detrimental to the evolution of humanity, I think that we can all agree on one thing: love is important. Bestselling Canadian author, Danielle LaPorte believes ”Love is always the right thing to do. Not the easy thing, but always the right one.” Even Martin Luther King Jr. proclaimed, “I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.” His message of love was monumentally instrumental in the ongoing process of obtaining equity and prosperity for minorities in America. Love is important. It patiently accepts stagnation, while vehemently encouraging growth. This is true of familial love, romantic love, empathetic love, forgiving love… one love.

On the other hand, is it too late for humanity to develop a singular love for everyone and everything? Have we ventured too far down the rabbit hole of anxious indifference to turn back now? After generations of being taught separation and “stranger danger,” is our love simply borne out of similarity and likeness?

In addition, where does the love that humans have adopted for other species which we shelter and provide for fall in this discussion? Generally speaking, Americans have a deep love for cats and dogs, but are indifferent towards the slaughter of BILLIONS of cows, pigs, ducks, and more each year. But through the lens of love, what differs between a Teacup Chihuahua and a Chianina cattle, and why is it socially acceptable to breed one for mass slaughter and the other for attacking ankles?

Why are humans capable of polarizing our love to such an extent? We can rationalize the slaughter of billions of animals, yet create breeds of others for our personal enjoyment and comfort. We can express intense devotion to members of our family, yet approve of mass genocides of other human beings. Where is the love in these instances, and if it is present, how can we realistically define the idea of love for the youth, so that it loses its fantastical appeal, and becomes a tangible concept capable of attaining?

Love is an enigma. It is a prism with as many faces as there are cultures. Everyone wants to fall in love with their soulmate, but not enough people are taking the time to appreciate, or even understand, the love that already surrounds them. I would love to hear your perspective on the many questions posed. Hell, throw out some questions of your own! In order to cultivate an appreciation for this thing called love, we must first develop a broader, long sighted, more holistic understanding of its intricacies. Who knows, through intentional dialogue, maybe we will be able to discover the core of the prism, and put an end to the dilution of this key human experience once and for all! Welcome to the School of Thought on Love. I look forward to learning from you :)