There are a thousand ways to interpret and express such a small, four-lettered, one-syllable word. It’s gentle, determined, vigorous, and committed – but I think overall, it’s misunderstood. I think the problem with love is that people think they’re void of it unless they have someone to love. We think that love is being in love, and that’s one of our biggest weaknesses. Love has a lot to offer, but we’re too afraid of letting others down or disappointing ourselves, so instead we are convinced that real love can only be found with another person.

The great amount of heartbreak and tragedy in this world often masks the soft admiration and affection that love brings to people’s lives. We’re faced with breakups, death, national insecurities, and incidents that let us believe that love isn’t real – that love doesn’t mean what we want it to mean. I think the problem with love is that we waste a lot of time fooling ourselves – we are afraid of admitting that love does exist.

Love is waking up at 3:00 a.m. to let your dog outside, even though you’re exhausted and should be up in two hours for work. Love is leaving a porch light on for your daughter when she’s coming home late from a friend’s house. Love is letting a car pass in front of you and into your lane, instead of holding up traffic and making them wait. Love is leaving the leftover pizza in the fridge for your husband. Love is decorating your home for the holidays, making it feel warm and welcoming to visitors. Love is asking if you got home safely, even though the drive is only ten minutes long. Love is sledding down a hill with your aunt, even though there’s not enough room for both of you on the sled, but you make it work anyway. Love is resting your head in the lap of your best friend as tears silently stream down your cheeks because you’re afraid of saying goodbye. Love is saying please and thank you to your customers – they don’t have to come into your store, but they do. Love is watching your children grow old, and love is realizing that you have created children who will help the world change. Love is walking along a dirt path in a direction that you’re unsure of – love is trusting something that you shouldn’t. Love is lending a pencil to the boy in your class who never seems to have his own, and letting him keep it because that’s the least your heart will allow. Love is saying goodbye to your first car – it’s a piece of junk, but it’s your piece of junk. Love is leaving a radio on for your dogs when you leave for work in the morning – even animals don’t deserve to feel alone.

Love is treating your grandma to lunch – she deserves the world but you can only afford a meal, at least for today. Love is placing a blanket over your girlfriend when she falls asleep on the couch. Love is hanging photos of family and friends on the wall – you know what you have but you want the world to know, too. Love is calling your best friend because they’re angry at themselves and you won’t let them think that the world is angry at them, too. Love is asking what you want for dinner – it doesn’t have to be your choice, but the fact that it can be is nice. Love is putting fuzzy socks on your feet when you can’t stand the cold. Love is watching the sun set as you lay in the bed of your best friend’s truck while you talk about life and all the things that you love. Love is meeting your son at the airport as he returns from his deployment, and feeling your eyes flood with tears because you cannot believe how lucky you are to have him safely in your arms. Love is watching your favorite movie in bed and eating ice cream because that’s your favorite, too. Love is looking in the mirror and smiling at yourself. Love asks you to forgive. Love asks you to forget. Love is generous, sincere, and kind. Love is what you allow love to be.

We spend all our time searching for love, but love has already found us.