An exploration of Love

I was challenged recently by a wise teacher to meditate daily on the question, "What is Love?"   I am finding it a surprisingly challenging meditation, one that raises far more questions than it answers.   This post is really an invitation for responses.  I would love to hear how others answer this question.

As I sat this morning, contemplating this question over a fresh fruit liquado with almonds and cacao, I realized that I could easily articulate the ways I show others that I love them, but I had more trouble articulating how I KNOW what love is, or how it feels. Especially when I reflect on what it means to love oneself. 


I mean . . . really . . . who do YOU know that never (or even, rarely,) doubts themselves? Or how about someone that never berates themselves? (Most people I know would never let someone talk to them, or to someone they love the way they talk to themselves!!) Who do you know that accepts themselves unconditionally, without judgment?  How many people do you know who, without hesitation, put their own needs first (not unkindly to others - just with confidence that their own needs deserve to be attended to?). 

How many people do you know, that when questioned, can honestly and unhesitatingly say, "absolutely - I love myself!" 

For me, I know that there is almost no one I know that I have seen that fits all of the above, although I am reassured to find an increasing number of people in my world who can say they love themselves, or at least like themselves a lot.

Which brings me back to the question: What is love?  Is it unconditional acceptance?  Is it release of judgment?  What about forgiveness?  Where does it fit?  Is love the yearning to spend time with someone?  Is love the yearning to take care of someone?  To inspire them to smile?  To show affection?  Is love the capacity to put someone first?  To witness?  To really see, hear, listen?


If some, all or any of these are love . . . how do they fit when applied to self-love? 

How do you KNOW you love someone?  How do you KNOW you love yourself?

Does the knowing need to be constant or can it ebb and flow like all other things in life?  Is it possible to love sometimes, and not others . . . and to know that´s ok too? 

I know these questions are deep for a Monday morning . . . (or afternoon, depending on where you are) . .. but they are what´s on my mind and I am eager to hear what you think.

With much love and deep curiosity,
Shoshana