Love

 To ask one what he or she believes in is quite possibly one of the most difficult questions to answer. It is a broad topic that could be pondered and contemplated for hours. What better way to answer this vague question with an even broader topic? I believe in love. Recently I have concluded that there is more than one type of love. For instance, there is the love that you have for your favorite type of ice cream, or the love you feel for a pet. When you love the color purple, you paint your room purple. When you love the ocean, you take a trip to the beach. This is the type of love that adds excitement to life. But the love we need is the intangible love that can only be felt within. It is the stronger love for the people in your life and for those around you. There is the love that is so passionate you feel as though you could never give it to someone in return.I believe in the love that I receive. While my family and I have never particularly gotten along, I love them more than I could ever say. I have no doubt in my mind that they love me just as much, if not more, no matter how rarely they show it. I wish everyone could be loved like this. Being loved so deeply and strongly is one of the most secure feelings imaginable. It means having a place to return home to at night, no matter what you have done prior. It gives you a foundation to build the rest of your life on, because let’s face it; nobody can make it that far without the right support.I believe in the love that I give. Living in this chaotic world makes it extremely difficult to find genuinely good people. I am fortunate enough to say I have relationships with two real people. They don’t lie or pretend to be people they aren’t. They help people any chance they get. They aren’t selfish or narcissistic by any means, a characteristic I have always adored. I have many flaws, but I can honestly say I have loved them both with every ounce of my being. I cannot count how many favors and acts I have done for them, and I would never want to. The single greatest act I have performed is to love them with the most compassion and care I have to give.Stereotypical love, although very difficult to find outside of chick flicks and romance novels, is all around us. It starts with the small love you have for your favorite pair of shoes, and it ends with the best love, that of another person. It is “patient” and it is “kind.” When reality seems too much to bear, remember, “All you need is love.” Real love is everything it’s cracked up to be, a person just needs to be willing to accept it in all its forms. This, I truly believe.