A love that endures.

In honor of Valentine's Day, I wrote up a short piece to describe this eluding feeling called love. Of course, this is just my idea of love for, I'm sure, there are as many different definitions of love as there are people walking on the face of this earth. So I wrote about love. I didn't really want to make it sound all pretty and nice and all of that. I wanted to write from a place of authenticity, a place that felt real to me  so to this effect, I tried to think, really think about what I've come to consider love to be.  I didn't want to write about the sappy, puppy-eyed type of love but, about a love that endures, the one that stands the test of time, of life's challenges and tribulations.
I know love grows and changes, goes through stages.  At first, it's all consuming, gets you all in knots and causes your heart to skip a beat or two. You're at the head-over-hills in love, can't get enough of each other stage but then, if you're lucky enough, if it lasts long enough, these feelings grow into something more; they become the type of love that is solid, powerful and consistent; they blossom into an enduring, nurturing emotion:  The kind of love you can depend on, the kind of love that makes you rush home to tell someone about your day, to share your upsets and your shines, your impressions, your opinions.  It's good to have this kind of love, too. It's also the kind of love that makes you stay when life makes you feel like running, the kind of love that turns into devotion. The love you feel for someone, whether a spouse, partner, child or children, family member(s) that gives you the strength to fight and support dreams that are not yours. It's the kind of love that pushes you to take care of a sick loved one, to look after the ones who are vulnerable, to fight for their rights to live a good life. That's the love I've come to believe in and that's the kind of love I highlight in my new piece. So here it is:


A Love that Endures

A driving force, crazy feeling        
An emotion, aberration.                           
Inspiration and sensation,             
Uncontrollable attraction.
Racing heart, heated body.
This need to see, to touch, to hear
A longing for the one we miss.
A willingness to sacrifice,
To give up time, to find a way.
To twist and turn any which way
Just for a smile, just to see joy.
To push, encourage and support,
And stand close in a raging storm.
A gladness, a sense of rightness,
Thankfulness for the simplest things.
Watching life unfold side by side,
Eating a meal, drinking coffee.
Appreciating, savoring
The quiet times, the big moments.
Growing and learning, making waves
Having fun or crying out.
What a blessing, what a gift
How precious is love that endures.

By Rebecca N Carmant
February 13, 2016
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