Love

Love.

Love.

Love.

It means different things to different people. It shows up in different ways and at different times. Because love has so many meanings, it may look and feel different to each of us.

Love is multi-layered. Our understanding of it is often shaped by how we were raised, what we witnessed and what we have experienced. These early lessons can influence what we expect love to look like in adulthood, as well as how we give and receive it.

I’ve been thinking about the familiar Bible passage: “... and now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

Perhaps love is considered the greatest because it has the capacity to endure.

Love is rarely perfect but I believe true love can remain even when circumstances change. We can continue to love people who are no longer part of our daily lives. We may lose them through death, distance or the gradual loss of contact. Their absence does not necessarily extinguish the love we feel.

The love may change shape. Its intensity may soften. It may become less present in our everyday thoughts. But it can remain, in our memories, in the lessons we learned and in the ways that knowing someone changed us.

Can we continue to love someone who has died? Can we still love someone we no longer speak to?

I'm conflicted in this ... I believe we can. Love and connection do not always end at the same time.

Love is complex. It can be joyful, exciting, comforting, steadying, beautiful and supportive. It also requires patience, courage, forgiveness and honesty. The list is endless.

Every calendar I have created so far has included love as one of its themes. I keep returning to this theme because I believe the world needs more love. I don’t believe there is such a thing as too much love. The more love we nurture within ourselves, the more we have available to share with others.

Who are you extending love to today?

How has your understanding of love changed over time?

And where might love be asking you to reach out, soften, forgive, remember or simply be present?

If you would like to share, send me an email: aderonke@abwilsonconsulting.com As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts.