The Ambiguity of Love: What Is Life, in Relation to Love

downloadDownload
  • Words 3172
  • Pages 7
Download PDF

Abstract

We experience different kinds of love for a specific reason. We love because we live, and living is the nature of who we are. We live because we have freedom and freedom depends on the experience or perceptions of people on it. We have freedom because we sacrifice, and we sacrifice many things to have one thing.

This paper answers why we love, what life is all about, what drives freedom, and why people make sacrifices and tells that these words are not different because they all have a relationship to each other.

Click to get a unique essay

Our writers can write you a new plagiarism-free essay on any topic

Altogether, Love is the reason of everything.

Introduction

According to Thomas Merton, love is an intensification of life, a wholeness of life. [ Merton, T. Thomas Merton > Quotes > Quotable Quote. Retrieved from https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/405378-the-question-of-love-is-one-that-cannot-be-evaded]

Life, as complicated as it seems, is much simple than we think it is. It is simple, only if we choose to season it with love. It is simple, simply if we choose to love.

Love can mean a lot of things and it can in times that you don’t accept. Nonetheless, we couldn’t deny the fact that it is indeed a beautiful yet a mysterious feeling. It is unexpected. That is why we don’t look for it; love comes to us.

However, love often comes with the word sacrifice. Such a thing is mainly the reason that love, as love itself, requires tremendous sacrifice. And that is because you love. Sacrificing one’s desire. Sacrificing one’s dreams and ambition. Or as it is, sacrificing your very own freedom. These are the things we do for love. Hence, love is the wholeness of life.

But, is love the only reason why?

Body

There are distinct meanings of the word ‘love’. Love is a noun, a verb, a universal truth, an idea or a neurological phenomenon. According to the ancient Greek, there are 7 words to define the different states of love. First is Storge, it is a natural affection- the love you share with your family; Second is Philia, the love that you have for friends; Third is Eros, sexual and erotic desire kind of love (positive or negative); Fourth is Agape, this is the unconditional love or divine love; Fifth is Ludus, this is playful love, like childish love or flirting; Sixth is Pragma, long-standing love- the love in a married couple; Lastly is Philautia, the love of the self (negative or positive).[ Thottam, I. What is Love?. Retrieved from https://www.eharmony.com/what-is-love/]

Human beings experience these kinds of love in their lifetime. Each one of these is for a specific reason- it is because we live.

Life is all about love. Life is all about loving and being loved all together. It is the nature of who we are. It is what makes us human. It is what makes us natural. It is what makes us alive. We are living because we love, and we are loving because we live. We are loving every stranger we meet. We are loving every friend we shared a laugh with. We are loving every family member we smiled at. We are loving every individual consciously and subconsciously. We are loving each thing we do since people have their own freedom to do such things they love and indeed, love is what we all strive for. Everyone seeks to love and therefore, to be loved.

We love and we have the freedom to do so.

Freedom is defined as quality and state of being free (Merriam Webster, 2019).[ freedom. Retrieved from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/freedom] The word free can be associated with different varieties of situations which can describe that freedom can be in different spectrums depending on the experience and perception of the people on it. Such varieties can make the understanding of freedom change because of the changes in its perception.

Going to different countries with your different social ties. Experiencing odd traditions and culture of another society. Having sexual intercourse in any hour, any minute and any place you want. Skydiving and doing extraordinary activities. These are scenarios of different people, on different ways of having such fulfillment in life or just simply these are all about living life to the fullest. These are scenarios of one’s freedom in life.

But what if we were not given a chance to do such things? What if we are in a cell where there is nothing much to do and you have to follow everything that was being told by the one who imprisoned you. Nothing more like than a bird who is imprisoned in a cage and cannot spread its wings to soar the sky. Things that can bind us and that he or she cannot express his/ her thoughts, ideas in life. Not all of us experience the luxury of life, some want it and keep on fighting for it, to be able to feel free from things that are holding us back. These things are intertwined with the word ‘freedom’.

Freedom within a society is a vital role in keeping equality, transparency and protect their rights as a citizen of the state. Such freedom can make the interaction of different social issues like freedom of speech. Expressing your own thoughts, letting the world know what you think should be done, what you feel that should be addressed, and what you see as a problem that cannot be seen as one. Such manifestations are; one, when our very own national hero Dr. Jose Rizal, wrote ‘Noli me Tangere’ and ‘El Filibusterismo’ that illustrated how the government and the Catholic Church used its power to manipulate people and provide different inequalities in the Philippines (Filipino.Biz, 2009) .[ La Liga Filipina. (2009). Retrieved from http://www.msc.edu.ph/centennial/liga.html?fbclid=IwAR2636avRiwYfPQYwmhimnadk0_LP7RePRCOnZ1Fm6_7vpLr0YbFJ_p0bMY] Rizal used these two literary pieces as a tool to remove the clouds of awe and feeling of amazement of the Filipinos to the Spaniards. Such a step has woken up Filipinos and stood up to fight for the freedom and independence of the country (PHILIPPINE HISTORY, 2019). [ The Katipunan Finally Starts a Revolution. (2019). Retrieved from http://www.philippine-history.org/katipunan.htm?fbclid=IwAR1KTFjyWx_cNOrPsCNgsuUM8iwRD_NjWCSN37oLSbOw6tpTeXo5qjsZHL]

Families are the backbone of what the children are behaving and how they converse with their different social ties. The family is also where we started, from mouthing and speaking a different kind of unrecognizable sounds, to how we started to crawl, then eventually walk, to where we started finding themselves on whom we want to be when we grow up. With this, our parents can be the spark of the children being their primary support system that will help support them no matter what, on what the children’s aspired dreams and ambitions in life. But what if it’s on the other side of the page? What if the family condemns the life of what the children want by letting themselves choose what path will they take?

This lack of freedom and free will of the children’s wants and desire may start different effects on the children. Such effects are much evident in our society now, such as shifting of courses, which will result in having a longer time in the institution of learning rather than just finishing it as the normal students. Another situation is being demotivated on doing the desired life of the parents, which may result in low grades, depression, etc. Happiness can also be a factor in this situation by not reaching it. With the parents chosen life, it can result in unsatisfactory in terms of achieving your goal in life thus resulting from being unhappy, and it can also be in a lifetime.

Growing up in a non-conservative household, freedom isn’t much of a big deal to me. Everyone is so independent- making sure I value independence the way they do. And ever since I became an adolescent, I already learned about some of my responsibilities. Having such freedom from a young age meant that I quickly learned ways on how to manage my time before enjoying myself. On the other hand, freedom of choice is paramount in our family. All decisions are discussed and will be supported, if necessary. From going to a concert of a band that I really love, to pursuing my passions and desires in life. Being free to do whatever I want, I never felt the need to lie to my parents about where I was, who I was with or what I was doing. I just need to update them periodically and we’re fine. My parents raised me and take care of me with no questions but encouragement instead. Some may say that my parents are too lax with me, but I wholeheartedly disagree. I learned how to communicate openly with and to trust each other, which actually improved our relationship. Rules are just rules – as long as you maintain a healthy and open relationship with your parents, I think we will all turn out all right anyway.

Freedom within ours is no different. Multiple Intelligence, a theory developed by Howard Gardener, suggests that the traditional notion of intelligence, based on I.Q. testing, is far too limited. Thus, he proposed eight different intelligences such as Logical-mathematical intelligence (‘number/reasoning smart’), Spatial intelligence (‘picture smart’), Bodily-Kinesthetic intelligence (‘body smart’, Musical intelligence (‘music smart’), Interpersonal intelligence (‘people smart’), Intrapersonal intelligence (‘self- smart’) and Naturalist intelligence (‘nature smart’) (Cherry, 2018).[ Cherry, K. (2018). Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences. Retrieved from https://www.verywellmind.com/gardners-theory-of-multiple-intelligences-2795161] This just proves that all of us has its own potential in their own special way. One can be a painter while the other can be a rocket scientist. Such things can be explored within you, like having an edge of not only one but a lot more. Not only on their excellence in such fields but also their gender perceptions, on what gender are we attracted to. Another is their personalities on how we interact with people, on how they will make an impression to another human being. But some questions will be asked if what if we boxed ourselves? What if we hide our full potential? Why do we hide our personalities and our gender preferences?

A lot of people tend to cage themselves so that; one they can fit in. Fitting in such way that, it will not affect their social ties with others because people might judge them on that type of talent or excellence in a field and they are afraid to lose them, or not showing their true personalities they can also be a tree in the forest; two, they just want people to know what they are on what they are showing. Not only it’s for judgment purposes, but they just want to be known as that, because ignoring things is their way to comfort themselves but as a result, depression and anxiety will show. Such are acts of sacrifices. Such are acts of love.

Love is not as simple as may it seems. Love may test you to make you do things that you don’t imagine yourself doing. What if a certain situation and your feeling of love by withdrawing your personal interests for the sake of others? Will you sacrifice yourself for love? But what if there is a certain situation that will test your capability to risk yourself in order to fight and do whatever it takes for your loved ones.

To love, and to be loved requires tremendous sacrifice. Nothing is gained without something relinquished. Everything that is worth of being achieved is made possible because of sacrifice. We have to let go and give up the “many” in order to attain the “one”. That “many” which can include your personal belongings, comfort, and even your own values and beliefs you hold onto ever since. We sacrifice, just for the sake of that “one”.

But is that the only reason why people make sacrifices? Are sacrifices only relevant in achieving our personal desires and self-interests? How about the sacrifices we do for others? For our loved ones? For society? And the sacrifices we make for ourselves? Do we make sacrifices, just to get something in return? Or do we sacrifice, just with the pure intention of compassion and love?

Sacrificing is more than giving up your personal desires and interests. Sacrificing is more than that. Giving up your own not for the sake of others but for your own self is more than that of sacrifice to achieve something. Giving up your own for your self-interests is more than that of a sacrifice subjected to obtain something in exchange. Sacrificing your own for your self-interests, is more than that.

Self-interest is the act of valuing one’s self. It is essential for your happiness and well-being (Galles, 2015).[ Galles, G. (2015). Self-Interest Is Not Selfishness. Retrieved from https://mises.org/library/self-interest-not-selfishness] Every time you take a breath, eat a meal or brush your teeth, you act in accordance with your own self-interest. Self-interest is good. Self-interest is natural. Self-interest is not selfish. Self-interest is far from Selfishness. They are different from one another.

There is often a confusion because the two words; self-interest and selfish, are erroneously used interchangeably. As a result, we may feel guilty about acting upon their own self-interest. The reasoning is that taking care of their needs will invariably have a negative impact on others, which is clearly wrong (Galles, 2015).[ Galles, G. (2015). Self-Interest Is Not Selfishness. Retrieved from https://mises.org/library/self-interest-not-selfishness] Actually, a strong self-interest is an important component of those people who are most concerned with other’s welfare. If you don’t give care or importance to yourself, how can you do that to others?

A family is truly essential for a person. One can be not live without it, for it will help them shape their personality and traits within this social group. Such social group provides different necessities of the people involved not only the physiological needs but also security, love, and belongingness, for these family will be their emotional support and their first line of defense if anyone wants to threaten or step on the dignity of a person

Sacrificing for the family is such a usual type of scenario because of its importance to the ones who are in it. One example of a sacrifice that is done, is such a well-known scenario in the Philippines. Filipinos struggle to find jobs in the country that will support their needs in the family. Thus, going to different countries to work there to make a living plus the wage is relatively higher than here in the country and my family was no exception. My mother went to Hong Kong and worked there as a house worker and I remembered the time when we talked thru a social networking site and cried on how much difficult it is on being away with blood-related ties and working in a foreign country. Such sacrifices for the basic needs of a family is much admired of the people because these Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) sacrifices their quality time with their family, to watch their children grow from simply by crawling on the floor up to the time they choose a path a make their own decisions in life (Gavilan, 2015).[ Gavilan, J. (2015). What you need to know about overseas Filipino workers. Retrieved from https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/114549-overseas-filipino-workers-facts-figures?fbclid=IwAR1URCzViV9WhRs3HR6Mzo8Epw0oSEvagEcO1ywhoTVsIvr8zFy0_hudlEU]

Sacrificing in accordance to your self-interest is not selfishness. It is not greed. It is compassion. It is love. Nevertheless, it is crucial to give utmost importance to strike a balance between these two. You have to be completely sensible in the level of awareness you attach in every circumstance you encounter and learn the difference between meeting our own needs and being self-centered.

What is life, in relation to love?

Biology is often called the study of life, yet in the history of the field, experts still have never agreed on just what exactly life is.

Life is defined in accordance with one’s views and perceptions of life. For a few, life would be defined as religious practices. For some, life is all about acquiring education and accumulating wealth. For others, life is about happiness. For many, life is all about love. And that is when everything made sense. Love is what makes us human. It is what makes us natural and what keeps us alive. We are living because we love, and we are loving because we live.

Remember the very first time you cried in your mother’s arms? When you first hold your father’s hands? Or when you celebrated your first birthday? How about the first time you meet a friend? And the time when you had your first crush? Couldn’t say more, that’s love.

Love is also when you shared food with someone. The time when you had your first heartbreak. The time when you became accepting. Became truthful and finally healed. It is when you learned to love again, that is because it is life, and life is all about loving and being loved all together. It is the nature of who we are.

I still remembered the time, when I was a kid, when my dad used to take me to the bay, riding a scooter, to see the fireworks display. Way back then, I felt happiness like the others kid with just the feeling love of your beloved persons even though it’s just a simple gesture but I can still remember how the polluted wind hit my face and see the city lights while riding the scooter with my dad and it’s a moment that I won’t forget in my life.

Conversely, without love, what really is there? What world would it be, what kind of society would we live in, without love? And consequentially, what would life be like, it there is no such a thing as love? Without love, there is no life. Without life, there is no love. It would just be an entire existence of black and white. An entire existence in a world of stillness. Emotionless. Heartless. Lifeless.

Without love, there would be no act of kindness and sympathy. There would never be happiness, no positive growth, and no life. Love is something we all require to live; it is a necessity rather than a feeling. It is a selfless energy that is bigger than life itself. Hence, if love did not exist then there would be no purpose for everything.

Conclusion

Love affects us in any possible way. It makes us all walk around like a giant goofball. It boosts happiness. It makes us smile for no reason. It makes us wake up in the morning and want to be the greatest version of ourselves.

Love is the cause. Such are the outcomes.

Freedom is a result of love. Sacrifices are a result of love. Life, as well, is a result of love.

With love, life can be so incredibly vivid. We can see that there are in fact no limits, and we laugh that we ever thought that there were, and smile because you are free and I am, too. And we are free to be. We choose to be.

With love, we do each and every single thing boundlessly. For love is uncertain and only we can shape it depending on what move, action, and decisions we make in life.

With love, we give up and let go of things. We sacrifice.

With love, we live.

With love, we love.

And love, is the only reason why.

image

We use cookies to give you the best experience possible. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy.