Earlier today I left a comment on someone’s blog and ended it with “Love from Colorado.” This is something I do often, and I think I picked it up from a friend of mine that lives in Canada and always says “Love from The North.” It’s cute, yes, and when my friend says it you truly believe he means it. That’s probably one of the reasons I use it, because I hope it really is believable. I hope you can tell I really mean it.
My comment earlier, though, caused another commenter to track me down and accuse me of “throwing around the word love.” Because apparently that isn’t a wise thing to do. This other commenter believes, I guess, because I don’t actually love this person, it’s wrong to use the word love. That’s how they see it.
But, that is not at all how I see the word love, much less the actual loving of someone, or sending of love, or professing, or offering, or anything else regarding love. My mind doesn’t work that way. In fact, I don’t really think I say it enough, especially to the people in my life.
If you’re a friend that I see, I communicate with, I share things with, I pretty much love you. I love my family. I love my neighbors. I love the guy that drove me to the airport in Houston last week because, man, that dude just doesn’t have a bad day. And if you’re here and a blogger like me, you’re damn right I will send you love.
For whatever reasons, and I’m sure there are a lot, people are a little afraid of throwing it around. I know we’ve had heart break and been burned and embarrassed but I tell you the fear of all of those things doesn’t amount to anything when you just let yourself feel it. Daily, in every relationship, interaction, and conversation you have, just let it in— and let it out. It is not a bad thing. It is scary, it’s intimidating, and yes, even sometimes it might seem stupid. But it’s never wrong, and the more you let yourself love and do things with love, the more you’ll find yourself letting go of anything scary about it.
Loving people, yourself, sending love… it’s not a mistake, people. It’s okay. It’s part of who we are and how we’re made.
Love from Colorado!
{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
My problem is more with hugs than the word “love” – but I have to admit that I totally know where this other commentor is coming from. I HATE giving hugs on a daily basis. I feel like people hug too much, to the point that it doesn’t really mean anything anymore… like, oh we just had coffee together and I’ll see you again in 12 hours, but lets hug anyway. I reserve hugs for people that I haven’t seen in a long time, won’t see for a long time, had something really great happen to them, or had something really awful happen to them. If one of my friends get a hug from me – they know it is genuine! Just like when I tell someone I love them, I really mean it.
Not to say my thoughts on hugs or love aren’t messed up – but I’m an engineer. We see things in black and white
K- I see where you’re coming from, I do. But for this person to follow my comment’s link back to my site, find my email, address, and then explain to me why I shouldn’t throw around the word love, I think there’s a bigger issue there.
Also, I hate the idea in our culture that there’s a limit to love, like if you tell too many people (when you MEAN it, I mean) it means you love them all a little less. Which is not actually possible. And, the thing that bothers me most—and where I can only speculate was where this person was coming from—I get pretty tired of people complaining that there isn’t love in their life and yet refuse to give it up themselves.
Not to say my ideas on hugs and love aren’t messed up– I just spent a long time as a cynical person and that did not work very well.
Love from Colorado Springs.
No, really!
I believe you have to live a loving life if you want love in your life. Maybe that sounds over simplified, but it’s all too easy to complain that love is missing, and yet it’s hardly any wonder if you aren’t open to those around you and you don’t act with love yourself.
Love grows. Through family, friends, bloggers and even the kindness of strangers. And surely that’s a good thing.
Love to you Lesley, all the way from Australia.
Wow, sounds like the offended commenter didn’t get enough hugs as a child. Hee!
Or, maybe he/she has such a finite definition of love that it should only be used in the rarest of circumstances. How sad.
We need to catch up! But for now, Love from New York!
Love is everywhere. Sometimes it feels like people want to assign some special rules or meanings or restrictions to it that just aren’t there. it is an emotion – a feel – an acceptance or a gratitude… Such a small word with such a signficant impact.
My daughter asked the other day if love fails… I told her love doesn’t fail – people make choices, perceptions, and are human. Love is constant.
I love that you send love. I appreciate it! And I’m not like K at all- I think there should be more hugging. It makes people feel good. I appreciate hugs and love being sent my way.
Keep being you.
Loved this post.
Love from Denver.
good lord, don’t people have better things to do? there is a “universal love,” a spiritual good energy kind of love, white light, or whatever name you want to use. how can it be bad to spread that around?
also, humans need hugs and as long as they are appropriate, welcomed, and non-invasive, it’s all good…
love from NYC
I think you should’ve written back, “Why you gotta be such a hater?”
I’m totally with you on this, and I wrote a post awhile back about how much it bugged me that there’s so much sensitivity around the word love. Maybe if we all said it a little more, the world would be a more loving place. Screw the naysayers! Spread the love.
I like referring to people as “Love,” too. It’s one of my favorite pet names for Mr. W and my girlfriends.
What’s wrong with throwing around the word love? Love love love love love!!!!!
The person who has a problem with the word love does not seem to be familiar with Christian Scripture: love, love, love, love!!
How bizarre! Did it not used to be standard to end letters with the word love?
Ratchetting up the love in our daily lives is a what keeps us from turning into automotrons. Keep it up!
love from further on up the mountain range,
b
Love from Michigan!
You know…there are different kinds of love…there is the love I feel for my closest friends, the love I will feel for my husband, the lvoe I have for my parents and nieces and nephews….and then there is the love I have for the people in blogland who seriously put their stories and lives out there for all to see and read…and comment and criticize…all different kinds and to varying degrees, but certainly not tossed around!
As for hugs…I am a hugger. I love them, I do!! I hug my family and friends even if I think I will see them in 12 hours…because what if….I don’t…what if something happens and I last left them without a Kim HUg and an I love you…well..I guess I don’t have to worry about that!
So yes Love and HUGS from Michigan!
see, i just dont understand why someone would take the time to seek you out to tell you that they don’t like that you’re sending out the love. really? then to me, they’re missing the point. maybe they NEED some more love in their life. and frankly i just think, if they don’t like that you’re sending it out, so be it.
and i dish out hugs and accept them any time i can!
lots of love from boston!
love from Ft. Collins!
Bear hugs are my SPECIALTY.
Love from DC!
Love isn’t said nearly enough…and hate is definitely overused…there are so many levels of love and love from is the perfect way to say it.