LOVE IS A VERB.

Love is a verb. 

This has been speaking to me in the sweetest ways lately. It’s been making me smile as I receive actions of love from my people and also smile as I recognize the true lack of action in spaces that I’ve believed love to reside. 

Whether that’s in my parenting decisions or how I treat myself. Love is a verb. It’s choosing AND moving. It’s feeling AND speaking truthfully out loud. It’s knowing when you have the opportunity to show up differently AND then showing up differently. 

I’ve talked about All About Love by bell hooks here, and it truly is filled with life changing words, views and perspective. 

"Love is as love does. Love is an act of will, namely, an intention and an action. We do not have to love, we choose to love” 

Care

Affection

Recognition 

Respect 

Responsibility

Commitment 

Trust 

Each of these individually does not equate love, so don’t confuse care by itself as love. Or affection by itself as love. We must combine them together into the action of love. 

“The will to extend one’s self for the purpose of nurturing one’s own or another’s spiritual growth."

Are you loving yourself through action and will? Are you loving your kids through action and will? Are you believing in love from another that is gravely missing action and will? 

We cannot expect to receive a love from someone else that we do not give ourselves. 

A good exercise might be to reflect on all the people you feel you love (including youself) - are there consistent actions of love on your part? Is there will to extend yourself for the purpose of nurturing their spiritual growth?

And then, how about the people who say they love you - are there consistent actions of love? Is there will to extend themselves for the purpose of nurturing your spiritual growth?

Love is a verb. Real stuff. Be well! 

SHANI