THE DEFINITION OF LOVE

THE DEFINITION OF LOVE

I believe the definition of love changes with your age.

As a toddler, Love is probably what you feel for your Parents. That feeling of safety; that zone where you know you are precious. Love also tends to be demonstrative: free hugs and kisses anyone?

You grow older, you take baby steps, you step into a whole new world: School. You make friends you love them. Your dictionary begins to include words like Best Friend et al. That is love to you.

Fast forward to the pre-teen years where you begin to really, actually notice the other gender. You pay attention to movies now, Mills and Boons and the like begin to appeal to you.

Lo and behold you are a teenager. The meaning of 'Love' undergoes a complete transformation. Love is what you feel for the that cute guy in the other classroom; it's what your friend feels for that cricket team champ, it's what a guy feels for the girl with a pretty, dimpled, smile. Love in the context of parents/family/friends is all pushed aside as the opposite gender catches our interest. This is usually the time when the word "love" and the demonstration associated with it become a taboo, uttered in secret whispers. Th first relationship maybe? Ah that feeling! the first love letter, the secret looks, all day texting. Or maybe unrequited love? Ah the pining, the prayers, the heart break. The first experience of the bittersweet nature of Love.

Towards the peak of teenage, the almost-adult phase is usually marked by fantasy. We wait for the 'girl of our dreams', 'prince charming', the 'knight in the shining armor'. Love is all fairy tales. We are restless for our share of the 'Love' love. A new phenomena termed lust enters the frame. There is intense physical attraction. There is a perpetual quest for you soulmate; all we want is our 'happily ever after'. A new relationship? The ups and downs associated with it, the insecurities, the pressures, the fear. More heart-break for some, happily ever after for a lucky few, the lose of virginity for some others. A phase of memorable moments.

And then you grow older, love takes a backseat as you pursue your other dreams, career, friends, maybe travel and other hobbies; you are in the process of discovering yourself and soul-mate is push to the dark corners of your brain (occasionally peeping out) when out of nowhere your soul mate comes into your life.

The connection is instant for some, for some it's an enemy-turned friend-turned lover-turned soulmate, or a couple of marriages for others, someone who grows on you for some, marriage first-love second for others, heart-break for some, a never ending search for others.

The crux however is that the discovery of love is not the end, it is but the beginning. Happily ever after is not a destination, it is a journey. An ordinary journey that really is no fairy tale. Yet it's magical. It's magical to realize that even if the person waking up next to you is as ugly and as stinky as you when they wake up, you still would choose to wake up next to them for the rest of your life. It's magical to realize that even if harsh words are spoken, even if they hurt you to bits and pieces, you would still pick up the pieces and throw them right back but never walk away, to know that they will always be there no matter what. 

It is magical to realize that true love, though no fairy tale, is beautiful, fulfilling, heart-breaking and never-ending.

:)