#35 Days of Dares #17 Dare to Love
Love is meant to be an adventure. Gordon B. Hinckley.
It’s Valentines Day—the day most single people hate and a day many couples feel awkward or obligated to buy chocolates or flowers.
Some people are in love with being in love and will go all out today.
I think today is a good day to be reminded that like having a puppy, love is not just for Valentines Day.
Someone we know once said to his wife, ‘I told you I loved you on our wedding day. If that changes, I’ll let you know.’
He was half joking, but I think many of us only express our love on rare occasions.
Love is not just for lovers. It’s for siblings, cousins, mums, dads, aunts, grandparents, friends and everyone significant in our lives. Love goes even further:
Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.
Mother Teresa
Love is not a mushy, romantic feeling.
Real love is
tough,
robust,
courageous,
loyal,
without agenda.
Love takes work and commitment.
Love sometimes hurts.
I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love.
Mother Teresa
Love is vulnerable. Love allows you open your heart and trust, to share and you take a risk that your love may be rejected, disrespected or forgotten.
Vulnerability sounds like truth and feels like courage. Truth and courage aren’t always comfortable, but they’re never weakness.
Brené Brown
Authentic love is a joy. Whether it’s romantic love, brotherly love, friendship or love for humanity, you know when it’s authentic because it might not be pretty. It might not be all roses, flowers and hugs. Authentic love has an energy that transcends us.
When two people relate to each other authentically and humanly, God is the electricity that surges between them.
― Brené Brown, Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead
So today, on the day we celebrate love, I dare you to love authentically. Don’t let movies like 50 Shades of Grey, or news stories of terrorism, or fear of opening your heart allow you to be robbed of the ability to love. Love with all your might. Spread love wherever you go.
#365adventure is a book lover’s year of adventures. Adventures in travel, friendship, family, soul, heart and, of course, book stores!
