(after several nights of insomnia due to my fever, I think my brain is still downshifted...maintaining 3 blogs is a lot of work; it was just a matter of time before I posted something for my classroom blog here...let's just hope I don't ever do vice versa! Gotta maintain my squeaky clean and conservative Kindergarten teacher image since these kids will remember me for the REST OF THEIR LIVES! I still remember my Kindergarten teacher...Mrs. Oster...she was like, a million years old and had a lot of saliva build up as she spoke, spitting at us on occasion...she scared the living hell out of me on Halloween when she dressed up in full witch costume and came 'flying' into the room on a broom and jumped from table to table. I also remember being sent to the corner and secretly sucking my thumb...I have no idea why I was sent there but I remember not feeling too happy. I won't get into the rest of my Catholic school education...ended up with 17 years in one Catholic institution or another...Now? I consider myself a recovering Catholic as I still have that guilt thing going and fear domineering men in robes offering me wine and foul crackers...OK, got really off track...)
It seems everyone really wants to receive Love. We feel, as humans, it is our right; so, we focus on the 'getting'. "I want to be IN love," a former boyfriend told me years ago (at the time we were dealing with some conflict or another). "I want to be IN love," many single friends say. "I want to feel IN love," many attached friends say. "I've given up on finding love," even other friends say. Hey, I've been there, too...but how often do we hear people just say, "I want TO love..."? I'm guilty here, for sure.
The thing is...again, cliche? simplistic?...The only way to get love is to give it. There is a saying, "You only get to keep, what you give away," I can only speak for myself, but I do find that when I'm in a funk, depressed, cranky, mean, snappy, etc., the reactions I get from people are usually either avoidance or the same.... On the flip side, I know what it is like to (try) to do things from a place of love (or, at least, heavy like). This is not always easy, especially with difficult people...but, the fact is, these very people become less difficult if I soften up and concentrate on giving kindness. I find this challenging when I'm not feeling great, but I'm still trying.
This seems obvious and simplistic, but how many of us practice it on a daily basis, especially when times are draining the core of our very being? As we approach this day for Lovers, maybe we can become more aware of how we are really interacting with those around us. Having any kind of relationship with another human is difficult...at least, if you want a deep connection and strong intimacy.
As the Beatles said, "All you need is love," and, well, they are right.
Love is a verb and requires action on our part, without the expectation that we will get anything in return. Helping others (and I include animals, the environment, etc. here, not just people) is an act of Love and through our loving actions we Learn and grow into more aware, conscious beings.
In conclusion, I don't think love is about finding ways to fill ourselves up...we are already whole and we should not need others to complete us. It's not about the 'getting'...It's clear, though, that when we give we ultimately get...Still...love is a paradox to me and something I will continue to be curious about...It's so easy for me to love animals and kids...it's just some of those big people I've had trouble with...
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