Love is so many things. It encompasses the good, bad and ugly of this world.
Since we take our first breath, we have been learning about love and its absence. It’s a complex emotion, state of being, philosophy and societal construct.
I know what deep, beautiful and lasting soul love feels like. It’s something I can’t live without, and it makes my life better daily.
I know what love lost feels like. Where love became abuse and trauma, reshaping my entire sense of self.
I know what love is from people who care for me more deeply than those with whom I share blood.
And I see love’s shadow when it’s wielded as a weapon, used to manipulate and drain our society. Love has a dark side when people exploit it for their own gain.
I also know self-love and its vital role in my mental health and well-being. I feel its absence in the parts of me I often neglect. Yet, I’m learning to recognise these parts more and more, developing a love for myself that transcends all definitions.
So, this is a reminder: May the love you have for yourself – all parts of yourself – be the definition and standard for the love you seek from others, from this world, and for the love you choose to gift away.
