0 And I loved!

So yesterday was V-day and... I hope you had a beautiful one!
Red and white EVERYWHERE, arrangements being sent by (secret) admirers/ lovers, candle-lit romantic encounters, beautiful wishes, kisses, tight hugs, sweet poems, teddy bears, chocolate boxes, heart-shaped balloons, declarations of love, cuddling...Have I forgotten something?

A widely commercialized holiday, yes, but to my opinion with an important meaning and a life-lesson behind it.
When you come to think about it, which holiday isn’t really commercialized these days?

V-day is truly about LOVE...
The feeling that makes the world go round. In the end, what is a human-being without love?
Mr. George Sand quotes: “There’s only one happiness in life, to love and to be loved.” Of course, life’s got other things that bring happiness to a person’s heart... and maybe we should discuss the topic of happiness on another occasion; but love is surely one of the most important ingredients to a fulfilling life.

People may think about romantic dinners, lovely cards, secret admirers and “couple-to-couple-kissy-kissy-love” when the name valentine is mentioned...but in the end it’s more than just that...much, much more.

It is about the love of your family, the companionship of a friend, the thoughtfulness, feeling you are important to people, feeling appreciated...simple silly reminders that you matter to those around you and that they matter to you in return.

No, I wasn’t showered with gifts yesterday, but I’m sure that each one that I received was given directly from the heart. And each one that I have given out was undoubtedly meant to translate sincere love and appreciation to the people in my life.

You don’t NEED to buy the commercialized stuff to celebrate LOVE...make a card of your own, write ‘I love you’ on your loved one’s arm, give them a  spontaneous heart-warming hug, SHOW some love...love some more.
And even if next time you choose to buy a bouquet of roses, a box of chocolate, a hallmark card or invite the person out for an expensive dinner...that’s all good...as long as it’s given wholeheartedly.

Thou I believe it is important to constantly show love...not just on February the 14^th. And it’s not  even the material gifts that matters most, it’s the gift of you...to the people you love.
So, go ahead and act totally silly....send out a message to wish someone a happy love day; cause you loved them yesterday and you still love them today.

And, by the way... happy love day to you too while you read this...

Have a meaningful, heart-warming, happy one...

Yours always,

A lovebug

0 Ia(m)e

Should you ever come to a crossroad, where external factors are trying to knock so hard against your identity, to the point where your life hath taken a 360 degree turn and you find yourself standing again at square one; stand still...

Who are you really?

What do you want in life?

What is your goal?

What drives you?

How do you plan to excel in life?

External factors are prone to contribute onto forming the humanbeing.

Society sets standards to which we choose to keep ourselves on a daily basis. Your family has certain believes, rules and customs. Your friends have (sometimes without previous agreements) a certain pattern of behavior. "Religion" or whatever spiritual conviction you choose...has rules, regulations, laws and standards. Work/school sets their own behavioral- (& dress) code.
Go on, fill in the names of what/whom else has been (trying to) form you in such a way...

I don't exactly oppose any of the above mentioned. But face it, sometimes they can get pretty irrational; to the point where you loose sight of who you are.
And sometimes people will come to "like" you, solely based on whether or not you keep yourself to their standards. So, in a certain fear of not being "disliked", we sometimes keep ourselves to every single expectation of the person/place we're dealing with.
*If you know your family believes a certain behavior is horrible for people of your color, social status or origin, you choose not to behave like that...JUST because that's what you've been taught...and you don't want to dishonor your family of course.
*Your friend utterly detests it when you speak in a certain tone of voice, so you (try to) control yourself around him/her...even thou you feel perfectly comfortable speaking in THAT particular tone.
*Religion tells you not to do something, and you simply restrain from doing it without really being able to explain the reason why you don't.
* Society tells you to dress in a certain way, so even thou you feel better dressed as an Apache indian, you resolve to wear what society requires you to, to fit in.

Wait, I'm not promoting brutality or liberalism and much less lawbreaking. I'm just trying to tell you to stand still in the midst of it all. Know who YOU really are. And be true to you... Even when merging into the different roles you have in society, don't ever loose YOURSELF from sight.

I...I am Sy. I am (still) a believer. I am multi-talented. I am a strong woman. I am not perfect and neither do I claim to be.I am (sometimes) very outspoken and sarcastic. I paint my nails in extravagant and crazy colors inspite of my serious job. I can be very introverted and secretive. I am a survivor. I am a lover. I am a friend. I spend a lot of time thinking. I am a fighter. I am (sometimes) a shameless flirt. I am loyal, I am a big dreamer, I can act crazy sometimes and enjoy it, I can be difficult, I do laugh about my own stupidity sometimes, I make mistakes...I sometimes avoid facing my problems. I am Sy...

And in the end I am nothing but me, and I hope you love me for me. Not for any possessions i might/might not have. Not for any of my physical traits. Not for what I did, do or don't. Not for keeping up to the rules. Not for obeying the laws and regulations. Not for living up to the social/behavioral/religious standards or for lacking to do so.
And much less for the image of me you've created in your mind. But love me, accept me and appreciate me for me.
And so, this is me; with all my flaws, mistakes, shortcomings, abilities, strongholds and all... And I hope you'll learn to love me for me.

Who are you really?
What is it, that makes you you?
Stop sacrificing who you are...
Discover yourself, love yourself and always be true to yourself! My piece of advice...

5 Stand still, I'd like to measure your heart's content...

Define love…!

The feeling and showing of love sure isn’t a new point of discussion. Countless people have discussed the topic for as long as the earth itself exists.
And many poured their innermost on paper, trying to explain this subject. I’m sure,…even while I write this blog, countless people worldwide are showing, thinking of- or writing about love.
Thou I think, the differences in opinion won’t ever seize

I was speaking to a friend this afternoon, which I must mention that I love EXTREMELY much.

And while conversing, he mentioned that he loves me “infinitely much”. (aaaaaaww)

Now, for as sweet as it might be, for someone to love you oh-so-much, “is it even possible to love someone to the INFINITE level?”

Hmmmmm…

Cause this is the deal.

When we talk about infinite, we talk about something immeasurable, of infinite quantity or magnitude, unbounded, EXCEEDINGLY great, never-ending and LIMITLESS.

And love from one person to the other has a limit, right? ‘Cause I say, what will happen in (for example) 10 years if I had done something that made me unworthy of your love. And it comes to pass that you don’t love me anymore. What then, happened to the infinity…where did it go, if it was meant to be limitless?

Hmmm, I wonder….I really do.

Share your thoughts on the matter please!
 I’d love to hear what you think…

I personally like the Greek way of putting it all ( I’d personally add some more definitions =p).
 But they have 4 different names & definitions for the word “love”. This, depending on how the love is expressed or what type of love is being spoken of.

They have:

·         Eros Love

·         Storge love

·         Phileo love and

·         Agape

Eros as we can all imagine, (it even sounds like the word ‘erotic’) is the passionate kind of love, only based on flesh-satisfying, sexual attraction, desire and sensuality.

Storge (or sometimes referred to as Oikos) is the type of love you’d share with your household.  To your mother, father(s), sister and brother(s). Literally translated it stands for “affection”.

Phileo love  is that kind of love you’d show to your friends. Literally translated the word means friendship. Phileo love thou, isn’t only shared between friends; but also between family members, lovers, the community as well as when enjoying an activity. It is the type of love that requires virtue, equality and familiarity. It is important to mention that Phileo love does not involve passion.  Philia(as they also call it) CAN be a selfish type of love; by showing love only to others if you  can gain benefits from it. Even hidding behind the truest of motives.

Agape is the biggest of the four; and it denotes an unconditional love. A.K.A., the sacrificial kind of love.
 I personally like how Paolo Coelho describes it in his book ‘The Pilgrimage’; "the love that consumes," i.e., the highest and purest form of love, one that surpasses all other types of affection.

Still infinite love’s got me…is it or isn’t it possible? As for me,…I can very most definitely love you in Eros, I do love my household in the Storge sense, the Phileo is surely also on my love list and I can even try the Agape. But, infinite love?  Uhm….do I dare to commit to such a level?

One thing’s certain, my love might not be infinite…but fact is…I DO love!

“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. ² If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. ³ If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.”

                                                                                                                               1 Corinthians 13:1-3