Reflecting on the meaning of love

(ROCKWALL, TX – Feb. 3, 2017) As I sit down to write this, Valentine’s Day quickly approaches and I feel compelled to write about the one word which this special day revolves around – love. I’m gonna venture to define this word as it pertains to me, because love can mean many different things. It all depends on who you ask. Love also comes in many forms. There’s selfless love, unconditional love, tough love, true love, to name a few.

Personally, I think to love someone means to give all your heart to that person. And that’s no small thing, because the heart is probably the most important organ in the body. To love someone means to accept that person for who they are, flaws and all. You want what’s best for that person, and you’ll do what you can to make her happy because you want to see her smile. But you don’t do these things because you feel you have to or because you expect something in return. You do them because seeing that person happy makes you happy. That person’s happiness fulfills you.

So, in the spirit of Valentine’s Day, I thought I’d share a list of 20 things I love and why I love them. To make this more interesting I tried to name 20 different things, although some could arguably be put in the same category. They’re also not in any particular order. But alas, here goes:

1. I love family and friends because spending time with them always brings me comfort and joy.
2. I love writing and all the frustrations that come with the writing process because I’m addicted to the challenge.
3. I love books because I can step out of the real world and into another one.
4. I love nature because it’s untamed, raw and full of secrets.
5. I love dogs because no other animal on the planet defines ‘love’ the way a dog does.
6. I love sitting quietly and reflecting on my thoughts because it brings a calmness to me I can’t get by doing anything else.
7. I love trying to find meaning in my dreams because dreams aren’t always what they appear to be on the surface.
8. I love to purge any negative or angry thoughts from my mind by venting out loud when I’m alone because it always makes me feel better afterwards.
9. I love to listen and sing along to soft music when I’m depressed because it literally heals my pain.
10. I love working out because it keeps the stress away and makes me a more positive person.
11. I love experiencing a light bulb moment because truly great ideas are hard to come by.
12. I love making other people happy because giving is always better than receiving.
13. I love driving aimlessly because sometimes there’s nothing more therapeutic than the open road.
14. I love coffee because without it I might as well be dead.
15. I love enjoying a delicious meal with people I care about because there’s just something about sharing a meal with others that makes the food taste better.
16. I love a movie with a bittersweet ending because very few things in this world can warm my heart yet make me cry at the same time.
17. I love finding something new and exciting to occupy my time because it gives me something to look forward to every day.
18. I love to be productive because I feel worthless when I’m lazy.
19. I love perfecting a new recipe because it means I can share it with those I love.
20. I love to hear others laugh because it always makes me laugh too.

These are but a few things I love, and honestly the list goes on and on. But it’s important to remember that Valentine’s Day isn’t just a day for happy couples to enjoy. It’s a day to reflect on the things in your life that you love, and if possible, to go out and enjoy those things with the people you love.

  Austin Wells, Blue Ribbon News, editor’s note, Love, Valentine’s Day