Love

Like many of us I struggle with Love, not so much what I feel but the differences in the love we feel for the people in our lives. The English language is complicated at best but when it comes to describing how you feel about something or someone it gets even more complicated.

Dictionary.com gives a total of 28 definitions or examples of Love, I will not bore you with them all but a few.

love  [luhv] noun 1. a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person. 2. a feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection, as for a parent, child, or friend. 3. sexual passion or desire.   verb (used with object), loved, loving. 15. to have love or affection for: All her pupils love her. 16. to have a profoundly tender, passionate affection for (another person). 17. to have a strong liking for; take great pleasure in: to love music.   Idioms 23. for love,

1. out of affection or liking; for pleasure.
2. without compensation; gratuitously: He took care of the poor for love.

24. for the love of, in consideration of; for the sake of: For the love of mercy, stop that noise.

Origin of love:

before 900; (noun) Middle English; Old English lufu, cognate with OldFrisian luve, Old High German luba, Gothic lubō; (v.) Middle English lov (i) en, Old English lufian; cognate with Old Frisian luvia, Old High Germanlubōn to love, Latin lubēre (later libēre) to be pleasing; akin to lief

I really think the Greeks had something with having multiple words for love.

• Eros, or sexual passion. The first kind of love was Eros, named after the Greek god of fertility, and it represented the idea of sexual passion and desire. …
• Philia, or deep friendship. …
• Ludus, or playful love. …
• Agape, or love for everyone. …
• Pragma, or longstanding love. …
• Philautia, or love of the self.

If you would like to learn more about the Greek words for love click here.

I think if we could say “I love you” to someone in a way that didn’t frighten them but in turn told them exactly how you valued them in your life, we would all be better off. I think the reason so many struggle with the word love is the interpretation behind the word since many think of ‘being in love’ instead of ‘I care about you’.

s’agapo – I love you all