LOVE - Feb 2010
My due date was February 14. I’m pretty sure I was three days late for my birthday because I refused to be born on THAT particular day. I’m not a big fan of Valentine’s Day.
I see it as a great marketing day for Hallmark cards and restaurants, which is great if you own stock in Hallmark or own a restaurant. The idea of a day set aside for the sole purpose of either saying “I love you,” or reminding someone they are loved, just seems way too shallow for my taste. So, I ignore the day all together. It’s just another day for me to value love.
I value love deeply and profoundly. I value love in all the ways it challenges me to be more than I fear or even imagine I can be. I value love for how it breaks my heart into so many pieces I fear I’ll never be the same, and then love brings all the pieces back together into a better me.
I value love for how it melts my resistance. I value love for how it dampens my anger. I value love for how I feel -- high on brain-chemistry-induced pleasure from dopamine -- when I do something without expecting anything in return.
I value love for all the different packages it arrives in. I learned long ago that some men show their love by remembering to take the garbage out. I learned that some teens show their love by sitting down for dinner, even when they refuse to engage in conversation. Some women show their love by saying “You’re wearing THAT?” My mother used to say that our collies were showing their love when they burped in our face. I’m not sure mom was right about that, but it was a funny sentiment.
I value love for how it makes it clear what is most important in my life. I value love for how it reminds me how important boundaries are, and that sometimes a little professional therapy helps my love be stronger and healthier.
I value love for guiding me through life, step by step, moment by moment, breath by breath. If love is God, or God is love, then I believe in God. I believe in love in all its abstract and concrete beauty. I worship love every day and will buy a Hallmark card on February 15 or any other day to tell someone how much I love them. In fact the more I let love be my daily sanctuary, the more I feel like I’ve been born again and again.
Love, Kate Walker
I value love deeply and profoundly. I value love in all the ways it challenges me to be more than I fear or even imagine I can be. I value love for how it breaks my heart into so many pieces I fear I’ll never be the same, and then love brings all the pieces back together into a better me.
I value love for how it melts my resistance. I value love for how it dampens my anger. I value love for how I feel -- high on brain-chemistry-induced pleasure from dopamine -- when I do something without expecting anything in return.
I value love for all the different packages it arrives in. I learned long ago that some men show their love by remembering to take the garbage out. I learned that some teens show their love by sitting down for dinner, even when they refuse to engage in conversation. Some women show their love by saying “You’re wearing THAT?” My mother used to say that our collies were showing their love when they burped in our face. I’m not sure mom was right about that, but it was a funny sentiment.
I value love for how it makes it clear what is most important in my life. I value love for how it reminds me how important boundaries are, and that sometimes a little professional therapy helps my love be stronger and healthier.
I value love for guiding me through life, step by step, moment by moment, breath by breath. If love is God, or God is love, then I believe in God. I believe in love in all its abstract and concrete beauty. I worship love every day and will buy a Hallmark card on February 15 or any other day to tell someone how much I love them. In fact the more I let love be my daily sanctuary, the more I feel like I’ve been born again and again.
Love, Kate Walker
