X + Y + Z = LOVE

Love is the subject of books, poems, songs… is studied by scientists and philosphers alike… has caused wars, is sought after and chased… has mended and broken hearts, built and torn bridges… is age old and timeless, bains our existences, and is shouted from roof tops.  There are over more than 150, 000 songs about love available on iTunes, 240,000 books in circulation today, and 1.8 billion websites dedicated to the subject.   

Some say it doesn’t exist, others say it is the only thing to live for.  It is not quantifiable, yet manages to fade and grow.  It is understood by all yet is a feat to define or explain.  Love manages to foster a feeling of belonging all the while engaging a sense of freedom.  Love seems to be the ultimate in the expression of the balance of the Ying and Yang.  Love warms our hearts, gives our days purpose and is the greatest gift shared. 

While there are many factors like physical attraction, mental stimuli, common interests, political views or religions… there is something else there that we all try our best to explain, analyze or quantify.  My best friend calls this the "X" factor... A scientist would say something like our body’s “attracted” to the other person’s pheromones, or subconsciously our minds identify with the physical attributes of the other person, like the shape of their face, color of their skin, etc.  Others will talk about the stuff of “sole mates”… some may refer to past lives resolutions… And yet regardless of what you name it, there is something so magical about meeting someone that genuinely reciprocates this inexplicable feeling with you…

I have felt love by way of a compilation of emotions that, added all together, equal love… the touch of someone that “answers you”, physical attraction, immense respect, pride, sincere trust, and a bit of that pheromone stuff… ya know, feeling comfortable, liking someone’s smell…  It always seems met 50/50 by both involved.  I have experienced love as the live equivalent of the Grinch’s heart grow; I have literally felt my heart SWELL in my chest.   

Some say it is an idea created by society, the result of 12^th century aristocratic poets and courting rituals, and Valentines Day.  By now if you have read my blog, you know I think of everything in terms of humans as animals.  And while animals that don’t have the society pressures we do, animals engage in the business of “love activities” just the same as humans.  It might not be society’s version of “happily ever after”… they still find each other, grow together, mate, have families, enjoy and protect each other.  The only difference I can find is that humans are the only “animal” that has sex for pleasure, rather than only for procreation.  

And beyond all my “human nature” theories there is the “energy” angle.  They say you find the right person when you are ready… and ready means not desperately wanting, but having “placed an order” for love and freely, naturally expecting it to be fulfilled.  Now the trick is maintaining and caring for that "love" like the seedling of a baby plant… with a healthy "home", perfect mixture of “moisture” and “heat”… and voila, you have a well rooted, happy growing plant… ehem, relationship…  Hmmm… Enough said. 

I could go on and on and on... but I digress...

Love is GRAND, it gives you wings.  Happy Flying All!

WITH THAT I LEAVE WITH THE LYRICS OF ONE OF MY FAVORITE SONGS ABOUT LOVE… THAT I THINK SAYS IT QUITE WELL… BY SUGARLAND, APPROPRIATELY CALLED “LOVE.”

Is it the face of a child'
Is it the thrill of danger'
Is it the kindness we see in the eyes of a stranger'
Is it more than faith'
Is it more than hope'
Is it waiting for us at the end of our rope'

CHORUS:
I say, it’s Love.
I say, it’s love.

Is it the one you call home'
Is it the Holy Land'

Is it standing right here holding your hand'
Is it just like the movies'
Is it rice and white lace'
Is it the feeling I get when I wake to your face'

REPEAT CHORUS

Is it the first summer storm'
Is it the colors of fall' 

Is it having so little
And yet having it all'
Is it one in a million'
Is it a chance to belong'
Is it standing right here singing this song'

REPEAT CHORUS FOUR TIMES

Is it a veil or a cross'
Is it the poet’s gift'
Is it the face that has launched over thousands of ships'

Is it making you laugh'
Is it making you cry'
Is it where we believe that we go when we die'
Is it how you were made'
Is it your mother’s ghost'
Is it the wish that I’m wishing for your life, for your life, for your life the most'
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