Growing up and learning the word “love” and what it meant, I always thought of my parents. They're married so they must love each other. That was my only way of explaining love to someone. And although I'm thankful to say I can still use them as an example, the term became more broad to me as I grew up, and continue to grow. Love isn't about marrying your significant other. To use the word love you don't even need a significant other. The Google definition says love is “an intense feeling of deep affection” which in most cases may be true. But the word love can be underrated and overused frequently. Love doesn't have to be about who buys the other more gifts, or who posts more on Instagram about the other. Love is appreciation, and understanding. To love, you have to be vulnerable. And it can be scary. I’ve never been in love and the word itself can be terrifying. But that doesn’t mean I would run away from it. Love isn’t all about finding your soulmate. And maybe that’s what makes it less intimidating. Because love doesn’t have to mean gushy relationships. Love is waiting to race for a track meet and seeing your parents and grandma bundled head to toe in blankets with a camera and a smile. Love is giving your friend the gloves instead of keeping your own hands warm. It’s never being able to hold a grudge on your dog after she makes the world's largest mess with the new toy. Coming home after a long afternoon to find dinner ready from a mom who’s had three times worse of a day. Love is when your dad knows you're upset but doesn’t know how to girl talk so he offers up his evening to go play some tennis and burn off steam, even though he’s been at work for 10 hours. Love can be canceling plans with your friends to hang out with your little sister who was lonely all of spring break. Love is choosing a restaurant the other person likes more. When you cry just because your gram did after a sad movie finished. Love is offering to get up and let the dogs out because you know your significant other needs sleep. It can be trying something totally out of your comfort zone just because it would make your friend smile. Love is doing the dishes without being asked to. Or not letting your friend give up on her dreams. It can even be just a small act to show you appreciate the people in your life. Love is standing in the blistering sun to watch your friend ride a horse for a few minutes. Or letting them cry to you for a little while after a bad break up. Love is everywhere, if you let yourself see it.

One of the best things about love is how unpredictable it can be. For everyone, love represents something new. And it’s their own life and their own stories. It’s nice to look back and realize how surrounded we are with love. But it opens your eyes to see how much we take for granted. Every day we’re shown a new type of love and don't take the time to appreciate it. Some people can't let themselves love. But we're lucky enough to have people in life that we can learn with, we can teach one another new ways to love. Love isn't always showing deep affection for a person. Love is knowing at the end of the day you have people in your corner. One thing I plan on doing is appreciating my mom more. She’s better than supergirl. Even supergirl gets overwhelmed and can't do everything but somehow my mom manages to balance work, my crazy dad, me and my brother even on our worst days, and still gets sleep somehow. I can't wait until I grow up and have kids of my own and just think how lucky I was and trust these kids will be raised right because of the example my mom set. So sure, love can be scary and intimidating, but if you learn to appreciate it, love can be beautiful.