What is love?

Love means many different things to different people. I feel the word, generally, is unnecessarily narrowed to a small definition of passionate sexual and emotional attraction between two people. This usage of course is true, and important. Love means much more than that to me. I have never been in a serious relationship with someone, or I'm sure this context would be a little more important to me - and it is important. I would love to, for lack of better words, fall in love. Just because it hasn't happened to me doesn't mean I don't believe in it or don't care. I just don't believe this is the only valid definition of the word.

I don't want to go off on a tangent or anything but... marriage, by the way, is about this first kind of romantic emotional love - that's it! Nothing else! If religious institutions would like to exclude people - fine. That's their problem and their right. Church and state are supposed to be separated, right? That's what I was taught in grade school, at least. I find the fact that in the 21st century, in this country, gay men and lesbians cannot make a commitment to each other the same way heterosexuals can under the law absolutely absurd and sickening.  Domestic partnerships do not count, either. Equal but separate is never actually equal, history has shown us this. Homosexuals are treated like third class citizens in this country and it has to change. Marriage is about love. Two people who love each other should be able to be married under the law.  If this isn't true, the basis of US law should be "equality for all, unless you are white, straight, and male." Until this change is made, I will continue to fight for this, and the full equal rights of every subgroup of people not treated the same as a white straight man.

Now that we have that out of the way, because it needed to be said, I can define what love is to me: love is a synonym for a happy and passionate feeling. Love is a piece of art I am passionate about creating. Love is a piece of art I am passionate about that someone else created. Recently, I saw a large abstract painting being thrown out at my college. It was probably a student's who did not care enough about it to lug the thing home. So at the risk of looking insane, I carried the heavy 5'-3' piece of paint covered wood 7 blocks through downtown Chicago to the bus stop, carried it on the bus, then 2 blocks to my apartment. I was exhausted, sweaty and my hands hurt by the end - but I was happy. I was so happy to know that I had saved this beautiful piece of art from the landfill. The feeling I experienced there was love. I've done crazy stuff like this before, and each time the feeling is the same, and I never regret my choices.

Love can extend, believe it or not, to the workplace. I pay my bills partially through doing part-time graphic design jobs in my spare time. When I get an assignment, regardless of the subject matter, I try my hardest and try to make my work, usually an advertisement, as effective and beautiful as possible. The feeling I experience when I get really into creating an ad about e-learning is love. I used to work in retail. I remember one day I had to take every pair of womens jeans off the wall of shelves and hangers, move some stuff around, and perfectly fold and organize every piece of clothing.  I put my whole heart into this and finished with the 400+ pairs of jeans 2 or so hours later. I knew this display would be trashed within 24 hours - but I didn't care. I treated working in a clothing store like working on mini sculptures made from piles of factory assembled garments. This passion is love.

I urge you to think about what love truly means to you.  

Love is universal. I love everything and everyone. I love the stranger on the bus as much as my own mother and father. I love, though not agree with, the hateful ignorant politician who stands for everything I do not. I love every advertisement I see. There are certainly different levels of this love I feel for the world. I live my life looking for the good in things. I look for what is right. I look for the things I love.

Love is so important. Love makes our world the world it is. Love your neighbor. Love your family. Love your job.  Love the strangers you meet everyday. Love your friends. Love your planet. Love the beautiful artwork in your office building's lobby. Love your romantic partner. Love your children. Love history. Love the present. Love the future.  

Love, love, love, love, love and peace. Always.