What is love?

I've been seeing a common theme lately coming up.  The theme is pertaining to one word:  love.

What is love? 

• ·         Unconditional
• ·         Baby don’t hurt me
• ·         Patient, kind, doesn’t envy, doesn’t boast, is not proud, doesn’t dishonor others, not self-seeking, not easily angered, keeps no record of wrongs(aka forgives), doesn’t delight in evil, rejoices in truth, protects, trusts, hopes, perseveres.
• ·         Choice
• ·         Passion
• ·         Dedication

First off – lets analyze this.  Studies have shown over time that a majority of people hate their jobs – that’s right hate, they don’t love them.  So if you’re one of those “majority of people” – question for you… Are you passionate about your job?  The answer is most likely “no”.  Are you dedicated to your job?  You most likely are but also because of other reasons.  You’re dedicated because of an image you want to maintain.  You’re dedicated because you need that paycheck to pay your rent next month, you’re dedicated because you want to buy that TV after you get your next paycheck. 

So right off the bat – I can say that in a relationship, passion is more important than dedication.  If you’re passionate within the relationship, you will be dedicated; but the opposite is not true.  If you’re dedicated it does not mean you will be passionate.

From that – I can also tell CEO’s, shareholders, company owners, you want more out of your employees – provide them a work environment that they enjoy.  Provide them a way that they will love their job.  Being passionate will lead to dedication and this dedication is not simply I’m doing this to pay bills – it’s I’m doing this because I want to.

But what is dedication?  What does it look like in a relationship?  Within a relationship – love walks and talks.  Ever hear the actions speak louder than words expression?  This is it, this is what they’re talking about.  This is dedication.  Dedication when love is involved looks like this:

 Patient, kind, doesn’t envy, doesn’t boast, is not proud, doesn’t dishonor others, not self-seeking, not easily angered, keeps no record of wrongs(aka forgives), doesn’t delight in evil, rejoices in truth, protects, trusts, hopes, perseveres.

Baby Don’t hurt me – a song brought to us by Haddaway.  While yes it is accurate to say “baby don’t hurt me, no more” – again, what’re signs of this?  Again – keep in mind, nobody wants to get hurt.  Nobody wants to be told certain things.  I think the big one though is the ultimate “what is love” question.

Love is a choice.  Love is a choice you make and basically you’re saying I love you as much as I love myself.  If you love yourself more than the other person – then I’d have to say you don’t love the person.  You may think you love them.  You may enjoy their company.  This person though is your cherry on top – rather than your everything.  If you’re thinking about entering a relationship with someone remember this.  Because trust me – if the person is solely your cherry on top – someone is going to get hurt real bad.  Somebody.  That somebody may not only be the other person but will also be you.

While this love is a choice – this choice is an unconditional choice.  You choose to love this person not because anything they have to offer you.  You choose to love this person for the purpose of you wanting someone to feel loved the way you want to feel loved.  That my friends is not conditional as we all want to be loved and that is truly unconditional.  If you love that person unconditionally - the "baby don't hurt me" portion will disappear.

To be or not to be, that is the question – but there is a even a greater question.  To Love – or not to Love, that is the question, that is the choice.