We Need More Love

We Need More Love

I think of the “five loves of the ancient Greeks” from time to time and how wonderful that is/can be.
Eros – Erotic love, love of beauty
Philia – Friendly love, love between equals
Storge – Familial love, empathetic love
Philautia – Self love
Agape – Unconditional love, altruistic love

I feel sometimes that our emphasis on romantic love and viewing all relationships through that lens holds us back so much.

And it’s not that I’m AGAINST romance. It’s that I don’t want us to devalue all the other ways that people express affection for one another.

We are complex paradoxical creatures and we are big enough for more than romance.

And when we understand this, internalize this it opens up the world to us. And allows us to open up the world too others. Too many people, particularly men, do not allow themselves the vulnerability to share such uncomplicated love outside a relationship. and worse not to accept or allow these other forms of love outside of a romantic relationship.

It’s unfair, don’t you think, to heap all that onto one person, so exhausting it becomes to be the only source of care. And how guilty you would feel if you were the only person and for your own reasons could not. Maybe you’re tired, maybe you’re hurt, maybe you need that support yourself. How do two wounded people support each other if they are not being supported in turn?

We need each other, deeply and in so many ways, so many more ways than we may otherwise realize. And it’s not your job to be everything for everyone, hell it’s not your job to be ANYTHING for anyone. However it is your responsibility to be the best of you, you can be for everyone.

That’s hard, and terrifying, but so very rewarding.

Be your best self my friends, and love more broadly. The world, your friends, and most importantly yourself.

Thank you and god bless. ~ S. Wallace