Love: an intense feeling of deep affection or attachment to someone or something

For many of us, we believe to understand this and how it applies to us based on previous context in our lives which would make this impression. Yet, within this definition, many ideas and thoughts are left unsaid. The words themselves are plain and bland, lacking what the word itself illustrates. If someone completely unfamiliar with the concept attempted to understand it, they would be lost; as if they were in a desert with directions to nowhere. Instead of completely relying on words to describe it, love can only be truly understood by seeing and experiencing it. In this case, life and reality itself must be seen as the figurative Polaroid camera, creating vivid pictures in our minds. Within these photos are specific characters within our lives: happiness, fear, anger, despair, logic, and love. Being one of the most influential in our lives, love can’t be displayed in one simple definition, but rather in a multitude of ways, as the character takes on many roles and goes on to infinitely inspire. This is an original piece titled The Definition of Love.

Love is what introduces us into the world and the first arms that embrace us warmly. Love is what opens our eyes into the new world that can’t be reciprocated. Love is the sounds that suddenly surround us like fog in the streets of the Windy City. Love is the one that catches us after taking our first steps out of many. Love can be found in the form of kisses while the stars shine from above, blessing our dreams as the curtains to the world slowly close, our vision fading to black. Love is the bandages on our cuts and scars from childhood clumsiness. Love is the numerous warm bowls of chicken soup prepared for us when we fall ill which we eat under the crisp covers of sheets. Love is the thick smell of sugar and vanilla emitting from the oven and the memory of a classic family recipe. Love is the people sitting around the kitchen table; with napkins in their laps, silverware in their hands, and kindness in their hearts. Love is the laughter which we find at an early age that continues to keep us young, enlightening us in the dark dull of adulthood. Love is the trust you put in another person, one of the most extreme exchanges a person could possibly make. Love is the lies you tell yourself and the tears you hold back when suffering through unbearable mental pain as you attempt to let go of the past. Love is the tears that acknowledge pain and despair along with joy and laughter. Love is the ability to forgive someone for crimes they may have committed, despite how significant. Love is holding onto someone who’s somber without any words exchanged. Love is found in the notes that you write on a birthday card, messy in style & gorgeous in meaning. Love is found in the smiles which help us to continue on our path and reassure us of our worth, value, and purpose. Love is the kindness that one displays in simple tasks: such as helping someone walk across the street, holding the door for those to follow, and carrying groceries for those whose hands are full. Love is found in the patience in listening to someone else’s story or even asking how someone’s day is going. Love is the confidence in yourself, which may be difficult to receive in a lifetime or two. Love is when someone can look in the mirror and realize that they aren’t perfect, but that they are loved for who and what they are. Love is the difficulty and the strength that everyone has but not all are willing to practice. Love is the acceptance that every new day will bring new knowledge that will be used to change the world, although it may not acknowledged in the moment. Love is the list of songs which help you in your highs and your lows with melodies that could never escape your head. Love is the outlet which gives you the ability to do anything and everything that you set your mind and heart to. Love is the one that takes the weight off your shoulders when you’re struggling to stand. Love is the hand that holds onto you in those final moments as the intense and beaming white light consumes your vision while a high pitched ring echoes in your ears. In this moment, Love grips the hands of Curiosity & Hope into the realm of the unknown; the unknown desert, quickly becoming quicksand underneath our feet.

Along with the love in our own individual lives, there’s also the love which is found in the nature around us...

Love is the tranquility, the peace and quiet, before the sunrise. Love is the sun and the stars, the rainbows after the rain, and the messages that our creator spells into the sky as special gifts for us. Love is the moon, coming and going in phases, yet still illuminating the sky when it’s considered to be dark. Love is the bolt of lightning that accompanies the storm which strikes through the sky: bright, quick, and powerful. The love in the air is thicker than the dense smoke which surrounds the scene of a fire. In fact, love is that large and blazing fire, creating sparks within each and every person it comes into contact with. Love is equivalent to the strength from each and every wave which washes upon the sand, renewing itself and the ground underneath. Love is the river which runs, playing between the sharp twists and turns that it may contain. Love is a waterfall, continuously pouring over into wild drops. Love is as extensive as the Nile, bending to and fro throughout the densest of forests. Love is the tree that continues to give its plethora of fruit until its roots retire. Love is found in the buds of dewy flowers painted with peppy and pastel colors, which have yet to flourish and bloom. Love is the array of bold and vibrant colors that exist in multitudes within every mile. Love is the warmth emitting from the colorful lights on a Christmas tree which shine brighter than the streets of Times Square and the dense smell of pine which hides between the branches. Love is the leader of all holidays, bringing our loved ones close and our emotions even closer. Love is the marshmellows of snow, where each individual snowflake is carved by the pixies in the powdery mountains. Love is a diamond that’s born under the deepest pressure: pure, uncuttable and valuable. Love is the excitement which radiates from a dog’s smile and the wagging of its tail. Love is the otter which carries its young on its chest so it can peacefully and safely rest. Love is the trunk of an elephant, extending out proudly. Love is the flutter of wings from a graceful swan or a busy hummingbird. Love is found in the pace of the humble turtle, slow yet wise. In fact, love is the innocence in each and every creature in the animal kingdom.

Love is a shapeshifter with an unlimited amount of forms in which it can transform. Love is the storyteller which weaves lives together in attempts to give everyone their fairytale ending. Love is the one that tells us that there’s truly a heart and a hand to hold onto everywhere we look. Love is what hides in the unknown, waiting to be discovered. Love is the adventure hidden into each corner of the earth that life itself wraps similar to the ribbon of a present. Love is what keeps us human, keeping us from becoming walking plants with no emotion. Love is what connects but separates humankind from one another, for those who fall victim to his foe, hatred. Love is what keeps us from the dark and destructive chaos that the world contains, but what also concurrently draws us closer with the amount of control the force obtains. Love is what makes world peace a possibility, but what is impossible due to natural human conflict. Love is the ability to conquer the mountains we’re forced to climb for the sake and safety of someone else. When it’s truly felt, Love is equivalent to a single sample of uranium: valuable, powerful, and dangerous. With this tremendous amount of power, Love cannot be contained or restricted, for the force seems to break all barriers of thought. Love has no boundaries-spreading its spectrum to all separate sections of the globe and the galaxy, a giant and warm heart extending to all ends of the Milky Way. Love is the one that guides us through the unknown desert by giving us the map, directing us to our destination out of the dry oasis. Love has no limits, being ever expanding. Love is an experience within itself that can’t be contained to words. Therefore, love cannot possibly have one specific definition, as it’s impossible to describe in one simple sentence. There is no possible way to physically measure love, for love is what we define it as and how it inspires us. With this knowledge, we must use our lives to create our own definition.