I woke up thinking about “LOVE” today. It is just another word, yet it can evoke incredible emotion as well as a variety of connotations. Just consider how many contexts it can be used in. I love the beach! He says, “I love ice cream and cookies.” She says, “I love your boots!” and of course, “I just LOVE YOU so much!”
But this morning, I was thinking more about LOVE as in the kind of love you experience for your life partner, your spouse, beloved, soulmate, etc. This is a love that most likely started with that overwhelming, mind blowing sensation of infatuation; the “I want to be with you every waking moment, hold your hand, kiss your lips and jump your bones!” kind of love.
Although that frenzied love begins with the crazy chemical storm of endorphins and other neurochemicals, such as oxytocin, vasopressin, and dopamine flooding our system, over time when the oxytocin has settled down, the love that lasts a lifetime ironically enough, becomes a moment by moment active choice which must be made without any neurochemical assistance. I love you therefore I choose you.
And so I realized, in daily choosing each other over all things, our love has evolved, grown, changed into something so deep. Infatuation planted and grounded in love, watered daily and nurtured has blossomed into adoration. Adoration in my experience, is composed of mutual respect, valuing the other more than ourselves, gratitude expressed daily with appreciation for the other’s uniqueness, the willingness to explore the deeper things of the soul, this life, this universe . . . together.
“Why are we so crazy about each other?” my husband of 41 years asks as he sweeps me up into his arms producing yet another flood of oxytocin in my brain. And all that I can think of to answer is – because we really “LIKE” each other and we choose to LOVE each other all day long, every day.
Some say it is quite rare. But in all honesty, all the couples we know who are sharing this same vibrant experience will tell you the same thing. Through ups and downs, heartache and joy, having children and then seeing them leave the nest, financial windfalls and times of frugality, they always choose each other over all other things . . . every day . . . over and over again.
LOVE. Crazy as it is . . . has always been a choice.
This article was written by a guest blogger. The opinions expressed here are those of the writer and do not reflect the opinions of Bob Lacey, Sheri Lynch or the Bob & Sheri show.
The Zen Den
Hello and welcome to The Zen Den. My name is Alison and while I am passionate about many things, my most inspiring driving force is human connection. Blogger, content writer, orthopedic exercise specialist, motivational speaker, international yoga pro, published songwriter, avid poker player, mom and wife are just a few of my titles. But when I do my job at NASA, I am known simply as “The Fairy Zenmother” a role I deeply love because people invite me into their space to help them find their center, relax and stretch their muscles and destress their mind. Here in the blogosphere version of The Zen Den, I invite you into my world where I will explore ideas for creating a better tomorrow and a kinder today. And hopefully, with insight, authenticity and humor; my words, observations and experiences will help you feel calm, centered, intellectually challenged and spiritually enlightened. Alternatively, if you have something you would like to see covered in The Zen Den, just let me know. Your feedback is welcome and valuable to the success of this blog. Finally, my heart is filled with gratitude to have this opportunity to share with all of you.
