Thursday, August 12, 2010

Love is easy for me

This post is inspired by Jessica, who claims I do not love her, but I really do. And there are plenty of you that I've told I love, and I won't take it back. (Ironically, Mid Life Mommy also recently posted about the definition of love.)

I don't think of love as something to be reserved for a chosen few. I think there's enough love to go around, and I surround myself with people I love.

Which is kind of funny, considering that I can think of quite a few off the top of my head that would proclaim me a people-hating bitch. And that's true, too. But let's not dwell on that aspect right now.

This post is about me finding so many so easy to love. I love Jessica because she's been a friend to me. She's thought of me for some wonderful opportunities, and I will forever be grateful to her. Love is the least I can give in return.

And that's pretty much all it takes for me to love: if someone goes out of their way to think of me or my girls, then yeah, I love them for that. There are friends that I haven't spoken to in years that I still love because they were there for me when I needed them.

Love, to me, isn't something to hold onto tightly. I don't love everyone I meet, but I love everyone who has added value to my life, or my girls' lives (which, in turn, means my life, too) because those are acts of love.

I tell my friends often that I love them because they should know that. I tell my girls that I love them about a hundred times a day. But true expressions of love aren't the words themselves, but in the actions: hugs, words of encouragement, spending time together, an offer to babysit or pouring a cup of coffee. It's the little things that say, "I'm thinking of you." That, to me, is love.

8 comments:

Danielle said...

That is a great way to look at it. All of the little things that tell me you are thinking of me or vice versa.
I really like that!
So simple and yet so profound!

MindyMom said...

I couldn't agree more!

My relationships with others (friends, family, or an SO) are very significant. I've always felt this was because I grew up pretty much without a family and to this day, dont have one (other than my own kids) so the people I choose to surround myself with are all people I love in some way; they ARE my family.

Love you, April! ;)

Penelope said...

YES!! You can say anything you want, you can tell someone how much you love them 100 times. But when you really show it? Oh is it felt! Great post :)

Pippi said...

Yeah, I have quit trying to make that point to my in-laws. You are exactly right. Thankyou for affirming it. Loads of presents (my mother-in-law) and criticism (my father-in-law) are not proof that you care. Between the two, I think my father-in-law is closer to the real thing.

Jen said...

I couldn't agree with you more. Also, I love the Glee scene in the background. I think Kurt's dad is my favorite character on Glee.

With all the difficulties in this world, love is easy and is always the best gift.

BigLittleWolf said...

Loving isn't hard for many of us. Finding people who will appreciate it is the tough part.

Jessica Gottlieb said...

Oh fuckit. I love you too.

Jenni said...

I LOVE this post. ;)

Because I couldn't agree more. Even though I get told a lot I'm not the warmest of people.