What is love?
Okay, come
on now…. we are all in academia, we know what love is, right? Sure we know what
Merriam Webster says: “a strong affection for another arising out of kinship or
personal ties.” However, we often hear people say “I love to read” or “I love
to have dinner with friends.” That isn’t for a person, it is for a thing you
do. Love as a verb means “to hold dear.” So you can agree that there are
different types of love, right? You should…. because there is! Love is bigger
than you are. Love is literally what drives each of us daily if we think about
it. Do you love what you do? Who you do it for? Why you do it? Let’s be honest….
not every day we don’t!
We do not
love every student we cross paths with, but we love the feeling we get when we
are able to help them. We do not love every co-worker we work with, but we love
the feeling of being productive with them for the good of the cause. We do not
love every family member, all the time, but we love our family because it’s who
we are and they are a part of us. All of these things that we love make us who
we are as a person. For example, if I am being completely honest, I am results
driven. There is a serious satisfaction within me for having a project and
seeing it through to completion, whether it be work or personal. I have goals,
all the time! If I meet a goal, I look for a new one. I know, I know, I am kind
of weird like that but I find satisfaction in making things happen. I am
definitely a doer. Those on this year's SC executive board who took the “Solving the
People Puzzle” personality test know that I am a D personality…. results
driven, take charge, and love a good challenge! On the flip side, a D
personality isn’t the best listener…. which I do work on, but - I already have an
answer in my head, and I want to get it out and be efficient….so let’s move on
here!
What do you
love? Well, that’s pretty simple to answer…. what do you think about the most? Clearly what has your attention defines where your heart is. Do you love a
challenge? Or do you love being the quiet person who provides solutions to
those more ambitious? I have news for you…. WE NEED ALL TYPES! The world can
benefit from what you have to offer. Do more of what you love and be good at
it! Now, if your love is bullying people let's back down off of that and get
something new to love…. but other than that, what do you love? Let 2020 be the
year you find what you love and give it your efforts. I promise you, a happy
you will reflect in all that you do….so go ahead, love and love hard.
Melanie Gillespie
mlgillespie@swu.edu
SCASFAA President
Southern Wesleyan University
