My take on the L word

Not too long ago, my boy Kingpin posted a blog based on his definition of love. I thought it was really deep stuff. I had my own take on what love meant, but I never actually got around to writing it down or anything. Now that I have some free time, and I'm in a position of love, I can speak more freely about the topic.

In my opinion, there are many different forms of love. One of the first forms of love is shared between me and my family. They were the first people I interacted with since birth. My mom nurtured me and cared for me in and out of the womb. My dad was always there to give me the helping hand and lead me down the right paths. My brother has always been the one to make me laugh the hardest, even if he does get on my nerves. My immediate family, as well as my whole entire family, have always been there to support me in all my endeavors. They have made me feel so special, so blessed to have this great gift called life. The love I feel for my family transcends any other emotion that I have. I know that no matter how bad things may get, even if I make a very bad decision or mistake, my family will always be there for me, and vice versa. I know that if someone threatened my family in any way, there's no time to think. I just react the best way I can to keep them safe. I trust these people with my heart and soul. I wanted to go to my grandfather's native country this year to see my extended family who aren't here in America, but that may not happen this year. Even so, the love I got for my family isn't going away anytime soon.

Next, comes friends. I've met so many different people in my lifetime. Some people I've been able to keep close over the years. Others have come and gone. When it comes to my friends, I treat them like family. I have friends that I call brother, sister, mom, cousin, aunt. This isn't just to be silly. I have love for the people who are my true friends. When I say that, I mean that I would do just about anything for them. They need something, I will do whatever I can to get it for them. Need a shoulder to lean on? Holla at me!! Let me know what the problem is. Be real with me and I will be real with you. My friends are like my lifeline. Without friends, I wouldn't be able to socially function in this world. Without friends, I wouldn't feel like I belong. I haven't really told too many of my friends up front "I love you". I should though. That love is genuine. It means that no matter what happens, I'm there for you. I'll be there to give you anything you need as a part of my social family.

We now come to the special person. Your boyfriend/girlfriend. This is one of the hardest types of love to establish in my opinion. When I start a relationship, honestly, love isn't the first thing on my mind. Not to say that I don't care about love in a relationship, but I try not to get into it yet because I feel that only puts unnecessary pressure on myself. What I do is establish a connection between myself and the other person so that we can be on the same page. Over time, after the mutual interests are met, and the nice deeds are done, I come to realize that there is more to the relationship than the physical. I was very cautious about saying I love you to any girl because it means something very special. When I say I love my girl, it's not just because she's pretty. It's not that easy. I have made it complicated in many relationships because I never wanted my love for my girl to be some simple stuff. I wanted to be the most beautiful thing that has escaped my lips. In doing that, I only made it harder for myself to say the words she needed to hear.

When I say I love my girl, I say it with consideration. I say it because she is beautiful inside and out. She has so many talents and emotion that just grab my attention. I say I love my girl because I trust her no matter what. To say I love you means that if I were to fall, I trust you to catch me. It means that I can be vulnerable around you without worry. It means that you complement me in every way possible. It means that I see the cracks, but I don't let you crumble. It means that no matter what may come, the bond we share can't be broken. True love doesn't come from finding the perfect person. It comes from loving an imperfect person perfectly. 

Love is a very powerful word that shouldn't be taken lightly. It has a power that can make you feel invincible...just like I feel right now.