Spread Some Love

 

I’m quite certain that there is at least one person in your world to whom you feel an emotional attachment.  This might be in the form of romantic love, as between spouses, or a deep reverence for someone who is a friend or “chosen” family member.  Do you tell this person how you feel?  When it’s romantic love, it’s (hopefully) easy to communicate that message.  But love between friends may be a bit more awkward to express.

Several years ago, I had a medical scare that reminded me that a time will come when I no longer have the opportunity to tell others how I feel about them.  So, I decided that I need to be more open about sharing this feeling.  I found that there are a few very close friends to whom it is now easy to end a conversation with “I love you” and we all understand that it isn’t a sappy, romantic notion.  Rather it is love born of friendship and shared characteristics.  Letting one another know that we care is just one more way that we can support each other and remind one another that we are here and that they are important. 

Interestingly enough, one doesn’t have to use the words “I Love You” to convey this emotion.  Perhaps you have heard of the 5 Love Languages.  These are five ways one can share the emotion with others.  They are:  Physical Touch, Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Gift Giving, and Acts of Service.  In my experience, Physical Touch is relegated to those closest to us:  Spouses, significant others, and our children.  Some people may have a more broad spectrum of people with whom they share love through Physical Touch.  That’s up to the individual, of course. For me, this language is one I limit to a special few.

Each of the four other love languages is easier to use with just about anyone.  These blog posts help me to express my love for each of you.  Not to be too punny, but these “Affirmations” are my Words of Affirmation to you! 😜. 

How do you show your love to others?  February, the month that brings us Valentine’s Day, is on the horizon.  What love language will you choose to share with the world?  In what ways can you use love to make a positive impact in your community?  How might you embrace one of the love languages that you don’t usually use?    Today’s challenge:  pick one of the five languages of love and share a little love with someone else.  Try to do so outside your comfort zone.  If you usually share love by gift giving, how might you instead share it through an act of service or with some quality time?  

It’s never too late to embrace a new strategy aimed at making our world a better place.  Remember those very prophetic words:  “What the world needs now, is love, sweet love.”  Go out and spread some today!