As someone much smarter than I once said, love makes the world go round. And I agree. However, I think we need to challenge the status quo when it comes to how we think about love.
We live in a society that puts a lot of value in romantic partner love, but very little in other kinds of love. I have been fortunate to have a lot of phenomenal people in my life, who I love, and who love me back. Some of those folks have fallen into the romantic love category, but so many more fall into the non romantic categories.
I have people in my life that I love like family, as brothers and sisters, and even like parents. Some of those people are even actually blood related, but the vast majority are not. These people are often my confidants, my cheerleaders, and often the suckers who agree to my plans to do things like climb mountains and get caught in storms.
I have friends who I love, and who love me in return. I love my brothers and sisters who wear the uniform, regardless of which one or even if we have met. We see so much hurt, and hate, and darkness in these jobs, I think it’s important to be the source of a little more love.
So today I challenge you to reach out, be vulnerable, and let one (or all) of the important people in your life know you love them. Because after all, another wise man once said “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” – Martin Luther King Jr