What
is this thing called love?
Many
claim that love is a wonderful thing. Although this statement leaves no room
for argument, it does not exactly explain what love is. Let us decipher the
origin of the word itself. It is derived from the old English word “lufu” which
means “dear” and is also closely related to the words “lubere” or “libere”
which in Latin means “to please”. Following its origin, Webster’s dictionary
defines it as a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person.
Often times it can also be a warm feeling of attachment to another being
usually felt by a parent, child or a friend. In a more erotic point-of-view
love can be in the form of sexual passion or desire for another man or woman.
Love comes in different forms and each one is essential in its own way.
Let
us begin with probably the most common form of love which is felt by every
human being – Agape. This form of love brings forth the act of caring for
another individual unconditionally, regardless of the circumstance. In
Christianity, God’s unquestionable love for His children is one example of
Agape. Another example can be seen around us every day of our lives and is also
present in our own life. This is the love of a mother to her child. As they
say, a mother’s love is unlike any other because she is the one who understands
and knows her child the most.
Another
form of love is Eros which means romance or a romantic relationship with
another person. It is commonly known as love in the sense of “being in love” or
“falling in love” with someone. Many of us have been given the chance to meet a
special someone who makes a big impact in our life. We get to know our
significant other, we accept their flaws and weaknesses, and we see past all
their imperfections before we can really claim them to be our life partner.
Being in a relationship has its pros and cons and many fail before they are
blessed with the right person but all this is a part of life. However, some of
us mistake lust to be Eros. Many assume that the act of intercourse is the
basis of romantic love but in truth, Eros is about being attached to another
person without having to have any kind of sexual relationship with them.
The
last form of love is Philia which in Greek means friendship and is felt between
friends. A strong existing bond between people that share the same hobbies and
interests is the basis of friendship. We all come across a person sometime in
our life who we just click with right away. It may be because of common
experiences, having the same likes and dislikes or simple being able to share
deep conversations with each other. A true friend does not judge, can always be
counted on, will tell us our wrongdoings and all in all be the support system
that we need in our life. A few people in modern society truly appreciate the
value of friendship because many have not experienced it or have been deceived
to believe that someone is a true friend.
Whether
it may be the love shared between a mother and a child, best friends or two
lovers, love is present everywhere we go and wherever we look. It comes in
different forms but they all boil down to caring for another person. Love is a
healthy feeling because it teaches us how to be selfless and how to put others
before ourselves. It is essential because it strengthens humanity and it
creates a solid foundation in every person’s life. As Helen Keller once said, “the
best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen nor heard, but must
be felt with the heart.”
