With Valentine's Day Just Around the Corner, Some Musings On Love By Skylar Arison

Love is a word that is often used loosely. “I love art,” “I love nature,” “I love him/her.” All of us have been told by someone that they love us, and we have all told someone that we love them.

But what, really, is love?

Is love the fuzzy feeling you get in your stomach when you see someone you're attracted to? Or is that lust? Is love how you feel toward a family member? Or is that an obligation? Is love the feeling of home and safety you get when hanging out with a friend? Or is that respect and loyalty?

Society seems to agree that all of these feelings are versions of love, but that's for you to decide.

I can tell you what love isn’t. Love isn’t pain. Love isn’t refusing to be there for someone. Love isn’t choosing yourself over someone else. Love sure isn’t harming others, and love sure isn’t judging others.

When you use the word love, be careful who you are saying it to. Are you saying it to someone who you are disloyal to? Are you saying it because you feel like you have to? Or are you saying it because you truly do love that person?