"There is nothing I would not do for those who are really my friends. I have no notion of loving people by halves, it is not my nature." ~ Jane Austen

And you've got to have friends.....
These words remind me how important friends are in my own  journey. I have relied upon my friends to pick me up when I am down as well as support and encourage me. I have tried (and hopefully succeeded) to do the same for them.  What kind of love is this?  How is it to be defined?  A quick Google search of "love" delivers About 4,180,000,000 results.  A daunting number of hits. Clearly, this is a topic that many have plumbed.  Despite this fact, I will add my two cents to the myriad theories and beliefs already stated.  

I like Wikipedia's definition of love as “an emotion of strong affection and personal attachment. In philosophical context, love is a virtue representing all of human kindness, compassion and affection.” I am wondering whether love is a thread in this tapestry or the canvas upon which the tapestry can be woven.  Here is the gist, "Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage," (Laozi)  I have always been aware of the essential role my friends play in my life and how the love from those relationships sustains me. So here is a tribute to love, "a virtue representing all of human kindness, compassion and affection."

I think because it is spring and because life around me has that air of rebirth I have been more cognizant of the interactions of those around me.  Those tender moments between friends.  I am seeing those acts of human kindness, compassion and affection; and, by this I mean not just observing them, but taking them in and letting them reach some inner part of my being.  Today I witnessed a woman place her hands firmly and lovingly on the shoulders of a young woman in a wheel chair and I saw how that small gesture made that young woman feel. I also witnessed an older girl take a five year old under her wing, sending her reaffirming glances.  


These past few weeks, it is as if Mary Oliver has been journeying with me,

reminding me to be a witness to these moments. 

"Instructions for living a life.
Pay attention.
Be astonished.
Tell about it."

~Mary Oliver

Since all poetry remembers when it was sung (Borges), a few lyrics from Alanis Morissette’s, "You Owe Me Nothing In Return."

I'll give you countless amounts of outright acceptance if you want it
I will give you encouragement to choose the path that you want if you need it
You can speak of anger and doubts your fears and freak outs and I'll hold it
You can share your so-called shame filled accounts of times in your life and I won't judge it
(and there are no strings attached to it)

You owe me nothing for giving the love that I give
You owe me nothing for caring the way that I have
I give you thanks for receiving it's my privilege
And you owe me nothing in return

And a few quotes for good measure.....

“I'm treating you as a friend asking you to share my present minuses in the hope that I can ask you to share my future pluses.”
Katherine Mansfield

"Love makes your soul crawl out from its hiding place."
~Zora Neal Hurston

~"Where there is love there is life. "
Mohandas Gandhi