1/20/10

Love

I have only been alive for seventeen years. But in my seventeen years of life, I have observed many things. I have learned many things. I have seen many things. And I think to know what something is, you have to learn what it is not.

Love is not a feeling. It is not an emotion. It is not the butterflies in your stomach. It is not an infatuation. It is not obsession.

Love is certainty. Love is knowing that it would be impossible to live without that person. Not that they would "complete you" but that somehow, they already are a part of you; to not be with them would be to take a part of you away. Love is when you can't handle the thought of only being friends. When it makes you crazy to picture a life without being able to spend every waking moment with that person.

Love is not finding someone who meets your qualifications. It's not about a list or a resume. People are people. They're not applying to date you. You can't love someone simply because your morals line up. That isn't to say you can love someone who's morals don't - they should line up. But that can't be the only factor.

Love isn't blind. Love should see all the flaws and weakness and love because of them. Not instead of them. You cannot love someone "despite" their flaws. That is to love someone partially. Love is when you know absolutely everything about someone, when you can truly see just how screwed up they are, and still want them.

4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. I Cor 13:4-8

"We accept the love we think we deserve."
-Stephen Chbosky