Only Love
Posted on September 11th, 2008 in Relationships
The pleasure and purpose of life, for me, can be expressed in one word: love. Love makes us stronger than we imagined, and weaker than we feared. Love bring out the absolute best of our character, as well as the depths of our worst qualities. Love offers the peak of life’s pleasures, and the lowest valleys imagineable.
Love is perhaps the simplest pleasure offered to us, and there a million ways to bring more of it into your life. To add more of the world’s only completely renewable resource to your life, you might consider trying a few of the following:
- Rescue a pet.
- Send a card to a sibling
- Call your mom.
- Tell your child you’re proud of them.
- Donate clothes and goods to charity for others to enjoy.
- Crochet a blanket for someone special (or donate it for someone you’ve never met).
- Make a special dinner for your partner or family.
- Donate your time to a local resource like a library or charity.
- Treat your roommate to a pizza night.
- Send a check to the charity of your choice.
- Encourage a child’s creativity.
- Email your boss to compliment a coworker.
- Smile at someone you pass.
- Let someone merge into traffic in front of you.
- Frame a flattering picture of a friend and give it to them.
- Plan a party for your gang.
- Bring cookies to your neighbor (or a bottle of wine if you’re next door to us!).
- Do some household chores or tasks for someone with limited mobility.
- Bring a healthy treat into work to share.
- Find something nice to say to your boss (even if you’re self-employed).
- Write a love letter to your partner.
- Tell your dad something you learned from him.
- Send out a few e-cards to friends you’ve lost touch with.
- Put down money on a shelter pet to make the adoption costs affordable for another person.
- Give an unbirthday cupcake to someone who normally doesn’t get much attention.
- Place flowers on someone’s desk with a note of appreciation.
- Snag a friend’s MP3 player and create a playlist of songs that would make them happy.
- Pray for someone else.
- Bring snacks for the employees at a favorite business.
- Give a smile to each person you run into.
- Offer free babysitting services for a night to new parents.
- Dance with a friend, lover, or munchkin.
- Do something kind for yourself, or indulge in a special treat.
photo credit: tiny white lights
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This post has 26 comments
September 11th, 2008
Too often people think of love in only romantic terms. But like you point out here, we can show love in a hundred different ways. Thanks for the reminder.
We should reach out to someone who needs it today. Let’s all show some love for our family, friends, and strangers.
September 11th, 2008
This is a great list Sara. It’s just the tip of the iceberg as you say. Also your list demonstrates 1) love does not require money or material possessions and 2) if some money is involved it doesn’t require very much and is not proportional to the amount of love shown.
September 11th, 2008
It was woven throughout all your suggestions, but love is ACTION, not emotion. Love takes steps to better others.
Great post.
September 11th, 2008
Sara, that’s a great list of love in action (like Ron said). And love, in action, is beautiful. And powerful. And connecting. And life affirming.
September 11th, 2008
I love this! Thanks for the great ideas!
September 11th, 2008
Great list. I would even take #12 one step further and say directly compliment your co-worker. We don’t compliment one another enough (in my opinion) and just today I was complimented by a fellow blogger, who I’ve only “known” for a very short time. I really appreciated it.
Also, I love #30 and wish it happened in my area (Boston area) more often. Often when I pass someone on the street, instead of smiling and saying hi (what is the harm??) often, the head goes down as if I’m (or someone else waling by is) not there.
September 11th, 2008
Such a simple word and a simple act but because of our selfish ways we cannot fully give it and experience it.
September 11th, 2008
“Tell your child you’re proud of them.” I do this every night.
“Call your mom” – I do NOT do this every night but will try to do it more often. Thank you for the reminder.. my mom is going to love you.
September 11th, 2008
Sara,
I love your blog cause it so simple, yet so thought provoking! Your suggestions are amazing. They cost us nothing but really make a difference to the person on the other end … and guess what, sooner or later it comes right back to us.
September 11th, 2008
I like this list. I often tell my kids that love is an action, not a feeling. And that this is why I can be upset with them or angry and still go about the business of caring for them. The action comes out of my love for them, not my feelings in that moment.
I am going to print and post this list on our fridge. Thanks!
September 11th, 2008
A truly fantastic list and you’re right, there are millions of things we could do that cost nothing but our time.
September 11th, 2008
As I read your list I was thinking how easy it is for me to do these things for some people…and how difficult (or vulnerable) it is for me to do these acts of kindness for others. I’m still learning.
September 11th, 2008
I like it! Love is a bg theme in my life. My only addition would be looking at the bigger picture, beyond the merely personal level. The reality of global warming calls us to care on a bigger, broader scale than we’re accustomed to.
I illustrate this more vividly in this article: http://www.diamondcutlife.org/love-in-the-time-of-global-warming/.
Alison in Portland, OR
September 11th, 2008
Chase: You nailed exactly what I was hoping to convey. Love is boundless, and not limited to “couples.”
Mark: Money is absolutely not proportional to the amount of love shown; that’s a great way to put it. I’m working on learning this one, but I struggle when other folks don’t feel the same way.
Ron: YES! I know it’s rude to do caps, but I’m just in absolute agreement: love is an action. Thanks for adding that beautiful idea!
Lance: Yes, yes, yes, and yes!
Stacey: I’m lucky enough to live in a place where smiling at others is normal. It freaked me out at first, but now I find it so natural. And yeah, there’s rarely a bad time to directly compliment someone. Good point!
Chris: Even if we can’t fully give it (after all, we usually do benefit from the charity we provide, even if it’s just warm fuzzies), love in any measure is still worth putting out there. (To me, at least.
)
Vered: “I do this every night.” Because you rock. And you can tell your mom I accept donations in the form of cookies. (Kidding. Sort of.)
Maya: Thank you so much! I’d agree that most of the time, our generosity comes back, even if we don’t recognize it.
Stacey: Your comment is making me question whether love is a journey, a skill, an inborn urge… You’ve got me thinking, and I love that.
Alison: Thanks for stopping by! I like the expansion on Chase’s point. Love isn’t just for couples, but it also isn’t just for people. There are tons of ways to throw some love into the world, and caring about the planet is another way.
September 12th, 2008
Volunteering gives you the best feeling in the world. Its unconditional love for people whom you have never met.
September 12th, 2008
Thanks for the list! With regards to pt 4, I don’t tell my kids specifically that I am proud of them. I just simply say the words “I love you” a few times every day. It’s just a natural response after squeezing or hugging them.
September 12th, 2008
Great, Great, Great.
Such a good post, so kind.
Here’s some love back at ya’.
September 12th, 2008
I’m loving 28.
Such a great list, yet so… (ahem) simple.
September 14th, 2008
Carla: That’s a perfectly beautiful way to put it. And with volunteering, that love really is unconditional, which is wonderful to be on either side of.
Evelyn: Sounds like your kids are very assured of your love. Between the hugs, squeezes, and “I love yous,” how could they not?
Carol: Thanks so much!
Marshall: That’s a truly unselfish one, and doesn’t offer any spotlight. Thanks for commenting!
September 16th, 2008
Did you know that altruism actually changes the body chemistry? That you flood your system with endorphins everytime you do something nice for someone. Scientists may simply call this a survival tribe-thing. I like to think of it as the Love Virus. Nice post! G.
September 17th, 2008
Grace: This is fascinating information! And the Love Virus is a perfect name for it; thanks so much for sharing this tidbit.
September 19th, 2008
I love this post and keep coming back and re-reading. Now linked to it on my blog, to share with more. Thanks so much.
September 20th, 2008
Diana: Thank you.
November 27th, 2008
I have loved your site for its useful and funny content and simple design.,
September 11th, 2009
Hi!
I so connected with this post!
One day, I was not feeling motivated, was very distracted and slightly agitated. I suddenly thought why not send some love to the people I love? I sent someone an ecard and someone else a virtual gift with no expectations in that moment.
I suddenly felt, so light and just fine. All the agitation vanished into nothingness and I became motivated instantly. I thought – is love so wonderful?
Thank you for your loving post.
Meghashyam Chirravoori´s last blog ..Sep 6, How to not forget life changing ideas?
September 23rd, 2009
Thanks for this great blog post Sara. It was very thought-provoking. In fact, today itself I wrote an email to my sister since we live in different countries and haven’t seen each other for over a year. I simply told her how much I missed her, especially every time I make pasta coz she loves the pasta that I make. I wish she would visit me and I could share so much of the love and appreciation that has been collecting in my heart ever since I last saw her.
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