» 65 Definitions of Love

65 Definitions of Love

April 12th, 2010

**In an attempt to define the undefinable, we’ve asked 65 thought leaders “What is your definition of love?”**

Here are their responses:

My favorite day of the year has always been Valentine’s Day. It didn’t matter if I was alone on that day or not, I still adored it. Valentine’s day for me is a celebration of love, love in its many forms, romantic love between a man and a woman, the never-ending love of family and dear friends, the enduring love between a parent and child, the abiding love between a human and their beloved pet, love of self and love shared with communities or the world.

In our society we seem to need an excuse to tell people how we feel about them, or show them with tokens of our affection. At Christmas, we exchange gifts and take time away from our busy schedules to be with the people who really matter in our lives. On Valentine’s day we are presented with yet another opportunity to open our hearts and share our souls. The marketplace makes it very easy for us to do that, presenting us with a cornucopia of delicacies and finery, from chocolates, to strawberries and whipped cream, to diamonds, singing teddy bear deliveries, and an abundance of greeting cards with just the right sentiment.

It matters not how you choose to serenade the ones you love on this auspicious occasion, what matters is that you do! Whether it be with a store bought treasure or a simple handmade delight, the form is not important, but the sentiment is! Valentine’s day gives you another opportunity to do something that comes naturally for you, as natural as breathing, and that is to BE love and to GIVE love. It is who you are and it is the only thing that really matters in the end.

By: Veronica Hay
Website: http://www.peopleandpossibilities.com
Bio: Veronica Hay is an inspirational writer and self help, holistic magazine publisher. She provides inspirational support and resources to help you live a richer life.

Love to me means that deep feeling of connection to each other and the Universe. Love is that deep joy of connectivity and knowing all is as it should be. Love means peace in our hearts and reflecting that out to the world so others feel it too. Love means feeling hugged by God and knowing we are all powerful, God-like and there is nothing to fear. Love means the deepest connection and realization that life IS beautiful and a gift and living in that gratitude and connectivity brings us the knowledge we are all ONE.

By: Jenny Mannion
Website: http://jennymannion.com
Bio: After healing myself of several diseases I found my love of healing. I blog about ways/tools to heal from within as well as recommend non violent computer games/sites for kids.

Love means someone else’s happiness is more important to you than your own.

By: Susan Heim
Website: http://www.susanheim.com
Bio: Susan M. Heim is a writer and editor, specializing in parenting, women’s and Christian issues. She is a longtime editor of the bestselling “Chicken Soup for the Soul” series, and the author of seven books, including “Boosting Your Baby’s Brain Power”; “It’s Twins! Parent-to-Parent Advice from Infancy Through Adolescence”; and three “Chicken Soup for the Soul” books.

My definition is that it is an all-encompassing feeling of being accepted for who you are unconditionally and if you are fortunate enough to HAVE this incredible feeling living within your heart, you instinctively want to take care of and protect who or whatever is the recipient of your love.

The recipient may be familiar to you…the recipient may not be.

The recipient may be a human, an animal, a place or a thing.

By: Marilyn
Website: http://www.non-violent.com
Bio: I am a woman who lives in Southern California with MY love, who is my boyfriend and soulmate Chris.

(Deep breath) My passion is my website and I love living my life. My family and friends are my priority and my interests are: spreading my message of a less violent existence via my website, reading, writing, poetry, music, crocheting, photography, art, inventing things, animals, cooking, comedy, movies, tv, computer games and surfing, star gazing, laughing, dreaming, and if you want to know any more, well then either come to my website and/or get to know me via e-mail because I love to meet new friends. (Letting breath out).

Defining any concept limits it. For example, to define dessert as “chocolate cake” can keep one from Key Lime Pie. To define entertainment as “something you enjoy watching” keeps you from spending hours obsessed with the train wreck called “Jersey Shore.”

Besides, we’ll first have to define “definition.” Surely we don’t mean the ripped abs one gets from the assiduous practice of Duhism (which also guarantees you a rebirth in Newark, New Jersey). And we probably don’t mean, “to throw out a window,” since that’s what defenestration means (you’re welcome… that *will* come in handy at a party).

And to respond appropriately, according to a former president, we’ll have to know what “is” is. And “your.” And “What” and “of” and that little curly thing at the end of the line. And doesn’t that seem like a bit too much to ask of us? Especially when the weekend is approaching?

As they say in math: QED (though, actually, they never SAY it, they just write it)

If my answer helps you in any way, you’ve clearly misunderstood me.

Welcome to the profounditudenessity of Duhism.

By: Bob Tzu
Website: http://duhism.com
Bio: Bob Tzu is the long-lost American cousin of the Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu. Where Lao Tzu teaches Taoism, Bob Tzu teaches Duhism. Bob lives with his wife Bobbie-Sue Tzu and dog Petting Tzu.

Love is action. Love is the friend that is there for you in the middle of the night when your car breaks down. Love is the partner who brings you chicken soup when you are sick, even though they are just as sick as you are. Love is being kind even when you would rather be mean. Love is the faithful companion who just happens to be covered in fur. Love is shown through action, great and small. Love is truly a verb.

By: Aimee Gertsch
Website: http://4theloveofanimals.com/blog
Bio: Aimee runs a website that celebrates the bonds between humans and animals. An animal lover from birth, she uses her site to promote animal rescue and responsible pet ownership. She and her husband have a dog and a bird, and hope to have more furry friends in the future.

I don’t have a definition for love because it’s such a complex idea. However, I realize I can’t pantomime or do an interpretative dance via this form so I will do my best to describe what love means to me.

People often confuse need, codependence, and attachment for love. When someone makes you feel good, you naturally want to be around them more often, which can seem like love at its strongest. Sometimes that’s the seed for a greater love, and sometimes it’s an illusion that precludes it.

To some extent, we’re all capable of selfishness in our relationships. Oftentimes, our first instinct is to question what someone can do for us, not vice versa. Real love reverses that order more often than not.

When you value, appreciate, admire, and respect someone, you want to show it in action. That looks a little something like this:

• You think of them without framing it in the context of your own needs (i.e.: call just to ask how they’re doing-not because you want them to be there for you).

• You give them the benefit of the doubt (i.e.: you don’t jump to the worst possible conclusion when their behavior seems confusing).

• You consider what’s best for them (instead of always expecting them to make sacrifices for you).

• You approach them with sincerity and kindness, doing your best when you’re angry (instead of using condescension, aggression, or manipulation).

• You apologize when you’ve wronged them, and mean it.

• You want to improve yourself to be better for them.

• You’d walk away from them if it would serve them better than you staying.

This may sound like an idealized love. That’s because it is. But I think you know you really love someone-whether it’s your sister, friend, or significant other”when you want it to be an unselfish love. And do your best to live it that way.

By: Lori Deschene
Website: http://tinybuddha.com
Bio: Lori Deschene spends most of her time writing and editing for tinybuddha.com, a website that provides wisdom-related quotes, tips, and stories. You can follow her on Twitter @lori_deschene, and follow @tinybuddha for daily quotes.

Love means never having to say you’re sorry! Oops, sorry-.that’s the 70’s Hollywood version from Love Story! How wonderful though if that were to really be true for us, but then again, is it?

The word “Love” can have many connotations attached to it, very often given to another or spoken of, without the actual feeling behind it. I Love You can be so freely given these days, with very little thought behind the meaning or feelings attached to it.

Love, for me, is a feeling, a feeling so immense and so immeasurable, that words are indeed unnecessary.

We all experience hurt and pain, and relationships experienced today are our mystery schools of ancient years long ago. Through our experiential learning we are becoming more heart-centered (or not), and feeling into our connections. Love is a force that knows no boundaries and the feelings associated with it are everywhere and in everything.

The feelings of Love for yourself can be so simple as to be in the sigh of our breath as we enjoy a bite of chocolate, that we have been looking forward to all day. Or, maybe the feelings of love are invoked as we smell the fragrance of a flower, or walking in nature embracing the hundreds and thousands of molecules of smells, sights, sounds that are racing towards our very senses.

Love is in everything if we choose it to be. To have the awareness of who we are, where we are, and what we are doing every moment of every day. We love our babies immediately from conception, from birth. It’s instantaneous, a natural given. As they grow, no matter what they do, the heart-centered Love connection is always present. We might not like them at times, but the Love is ever-present. To take it a step further, I personally have experienced the removal of the ego and my own hurt or pain, and the heart just opened with Divine Love pouring forth for another Being going through their own hurt and pain. The Love directly from Source engulfs everyone and hence, is immeasurable.

The force of Love can spread like rays of light across continents from one country to another when we seek to connect with another. Tools such as Facebook have helped people to connect all over the world and literally, within seconds, the heart-filled love connection is felt, as someone responds to words of wisdom posted from thousands of miles away. In that instant, we are connected and the Love grid is formed across the planet.

Love knows no boundaries as just today, I experience the feelings of Love penetrating the veils of the worlds beyond and through Love, gifts are shared to bring yet more love from those who have gone before us. Love is never-ending, all omnipotent, on the micro and the macro, always.

By: Sue Batt
Website: http://www.healingtouch4health.com
Bio: Sue’s purpose in life through Healing Touch 4 Health is for those, who choose to seek her guidance, to help you connect to who you really are. Sue knows that no pain, no gain is false and that laughter and feeling good is more effective in moving you forward towards your goal and all you want in life. Sue’s light-hearted approach in Lifestyle Coaching and Energy Healing is effective and joy filled. Learn through laughter & love, not trauma, by shifting and transforming how you perceive the world, and balanced health and wellness will follow.

When I think about Love, I recall the Divine Love I experienced during my near-death experience. There I observed how Love and Light are Unity that creates this physical world we live in. Love permeates everything and in return everything radiates love into an interconnected world.

This unconditional love is never broken and is always available within us. When we are able to mindfully bring loving intention into our daily lives our vision of this world clears and we can overcome any obstacle in our paths. It is not so important what we accomplish as much as how we express our loving intentions. Love is its own reward and love helped me tremendously in overcoming lung and bone cancer.

By: David Bennett
Website: http://www.Dharma-Talks.com
Bio: A public speaker on Television, Radio and lectures across the nation, author, and leader of the Upstate New York IANDS (International Association for Near Death Studies). Dave’s two Near-death Experiences (NDE) transformed his life’s focus. Starting as a Chief Engineer on a research vessel and after he answered Spirit’s call of service into the healthcare industry as a dialysis manager. Since his spontaneous recovery from stage IV lung & bone cancer that collapsed his spine, Dave has retired and devotes time to volunteering and spreading Light and writing his book. You can find him on twitter @DharmaTalks

Love is the fabric of all creation. It’s the beginning and the end. Love defines existence. You are Love. I am Love. Love is all there is! We just forgot It’s now time to remember your truth and re-align with the essence of who and what you are.

By: Amirah Hall
Website: http://amirahhall.com
Bio: A near death experience lifted Amirah to higher mystical insight in 1998. Amirah human journey includes many personal hardships and physical challenges that continue to teach her the transcendent power of love and light. She is a gifted energy healer, authentic channel and an exceptional psychic. As an outstanding clairvoyant and clairaudient, she has the ability to perceive and to interface with auras, thought forms, angelic beings and the energy matrix. Using all of these abilities, Amirah guides you through relationship problems, spiritual questions and crises, financial dilemmas, known and unknown causes of stress and distress, exploration of future choices, communications across time, connecting with greater Truth for you and your loved ones, and many more. Amirah has has helped thousands of seekers find direction and compassion amid the clutter and distractions of modern society. Amirah is the author of WAKE UP! Shift Happens, an energetic guide for shifting consciousness 2012 and beyond, Transforming Through 2012 and LOVE UP Your Life. She hosts Lessons From The Light Radio and offers group spiritual tours to Egypt. Amirah is an internationally renowned intuitive (clairvoyant, clairscient, clairaudient) energy healer, speaker and teacher. She sees the ‘Divine in You’ to help you understand who you are and your purpose. Amirah is a Matrix Energetic Practioner, a Reiki Master and is an ordained minister. She has a BA in Business and MSc in Metaphysics and has studied with top intuitive/energy training schools and teachers in the United States. Amirah was born in Canada and resides in San Diego, California.

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