WHAT IS LOVE?

It is a question I have been asked so many times. I would give a different definition each time depending on my mood of the moment.

Love is a philosophical term that has been given various definitions by savvy experts, scholars as well as people in love. Many would attribute love as a sentiment, a feeling, or a state of mind that gives enjoyment to the heart, soul and spirit.

When struck by love, the bearer may not know what is behind such strange sensation but feels a powerful emotion and sometimes an uncontrollable attraction toward the person or the object that causes such an emotion. Love is a mental and physical state of excitement. According to scientists, when love is in the air, the biology of the human body is overwhelmed. The heart beats more rapidly than usual. The brain releases more endorphins and morphine, natural chemical secretions that produce great sensations of pleasure and relaxation. The person is over-excited or overheated if I may say so.

Generally, in such occurrences, the person in love is not often dealing with his sense of reason, but with the sweet murmurs of the heart. Pascal, a French writer, had to say: “Le cœur a des raisons que la raison ne connait pas” translated: “The heart has reasons that (the) reason doesn’t know”. Put it clearly, love always precedes reason.

 There are different types of love if we are opened to various assertions made the multitude of lovers out there. Many reasons and circumstances trigger this sentiment. They are: desire, passion, pleasure, envy, excitement, seduction, fascination, and even an answer to boredom and isolation. Every body loves in own individual way and manners. It depends of the upbringing of the person and a wide range of things, such as, preference, philosophy, culture, ethnicity, and also preconceived ideas accumulated in our minds during our lifetime and so forth. It doesn’t really matter what the philosophers and the experts say about this subject matter. Just fall in love and be very happy. 

However, no matter how love comes your way, the end should never justify the means.Your intention should never be at someone’s expenses. And also remember my following thought:

Love is not always

What it seems to be

But what one makes of it.

To put it simply,

Love is the foolishness of the heart.

Jacques Saint-Surin

Chicago, March 10, 2009