What Is Love?

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