April 2, 2010There are 96 sanskrit words for love. How many words do you have for it?
Helen Wilke posted about the word love – recently. She told of a young woman who said love has been devalued because we use the same word for what we feel for our parents, God and ice cream.
Helen observed that only the word that has lost its meaning, not the experience.
While she’s right, it’s also true that our words both reflect our consciousness and create it. I suspect that a culture that has 96 words for love also is more conscious of the nuances of love than a culture that uses the same word for a new baby that it uses for new shoes. And, it’s frustrating to not have the words to describe an experience that takes us to new realms of ecstasy. I’m very fond of the shoes I bought recently. And, my love for them is nothing like the ecstatic, euphoric awe I felt when my son was born.Or even when he pulled himself up to standing for the first time.
What can we say?
I love you more than words can say, partly because I told you last week that I love my shoes?
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Me and my honey tell each other that we are one another’s favorite. We found that using our own way of expressing our feelings for one another meant so much more than the prescribed words of love. I think it is more in how you say it than the words themselves. Just as it is with the tone in which you address a tough situation, love is just as important to express with meaning and intent.
Comment by Ashley — April 11, 2010 @ 1:27 pm
How beautiful! And it goes with things I’ve mentioned about always being conscious in your choice of words. There are a gazillion ways to ell someone you love them – even if you don’t speak a word of sanskrit!
Comment by merylrunion — April 11, 2010 @ 7:46 pm