Love Part 1: Types

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Love comes in many forms and on various levels; superficial, deep, conditional, unconditional. We may love a new dress, but that love is nothing compared to the love this mother has for her children.

2005 Dan, RJ, Yvonne, Kaity, Mookie & Cousin Megan

 Two very different kinds of love. The dress is a conditional love. It must fit properly and have the right design for me to love it. My children on the other hand, since the day I learned I was pregnant with them they were unconditionally loved by me. Yes, no matter what I will always, under all circumstances, love my children. They are my absolute first true loves. Until I had children I did not know what love really was and how fulfilling it can be.

Another love I have is for those that I grew to love over time and

fell in love with. My husband, Ric and his children from his first marriage are my first non-biological true loves. My love for them grew over time. Ric and I were friends for quite sometime before we became lovers. The time we took to get to know each other is what I believe allowed me to fall in love with him. As for his children, who became my children as well, they did not grow in my womb, but they grew in my heart, so I fell in love with them as well.

Me and Denise being silly

 Then there is the love you have for your friends. Sometimes your friends become more like your family than the family you were born into and those are the friends I love dearly. I have known my friend Denise for nearly thirty years. Since the day we met she has been a sister and taught me how and what it is to be a sister. If you know me or have been reading my blogs you know I had sisters growing up. Given the circumstances, I was more like a nanny for them than anything. Therefore, even though I would have appreciated a relationship with them the sisterly bond is just not there for them.

Let’s not forget about our four legged, flying or hopping friends. They are so lovable, at least the ones I have raised. They are our companions and protectors. Dogs for one are the epitome of unconditional love for their person. I love it when Simba and/or Xena greet me when I wake up or come home. They also tuck us in at night. Yes, they get annoyed with us when we leave for extended periods of time, but they always forgive us and resume their loving nature.

When I was a kid and I have heard this from many of my friends also, love was not a word that was used often in our household. My mom said she never really heard the word love as she was growing up too. I don’t understand the stigma back then, but these days, I have absolutely no issues with professing my love to someone. Some people are uncomfortable when I tell them that I love them, so I scale it back for them. I don’t say I love you to hear it back, I just want them to know I cherish them being in my life. Love is not a word I take lightly. I mean it when I say it. So if I tell you I love you I really do.

In keeping with the basics here, I have mentioned some basic types of love. That is not to say Love is simple or basic. Quite the contrary, Love is very complex and travels across several miles of feelings and emotions. That being said, in an effort to come to a better understanding and possibly become more comfortable with the concept of love I am going to declare this a blog series about Love. Next we will break down conditional vs. unconditional love. Unitl next time Keep it Simple (KiS).