I’m not the type of person to tell someone I love them unless I genuinely mean it. I believe the word is so overused that it’s meaning has been corroded by waves of misunderstanding. I asked 20 friends how they would define love. I was interested in seeing the varying ideas of such an abstract idea. Looking over their answers you can come to your own conclusions. But I’m officially confused as to exactly what love is.

1. “Okay okay I heard this in wedding crashers and I've sworn by it since "the soul's recognition of its counterpoint in another"”
2. “Just having a strong feeling for someone I guess.”
3. “Love is making sacrifices.”
4. “For someone who's been single for a long ass time that's a very good question, uhm, there's different kinds of love but essentially it's all about caring, putting other people first. My ideal love would be a generous kind of love something I would be proud of, something that I would fight for. Hopefully with someone not lactose intolerant cause I'm hella cheesy.”
5. “Today I was thinking about love and how people approach and overcome challenges together, how they deal with hardship. And I think that is incredibly important. Anyone can be in love when times are easy, but our relationships are defined by how we cope with adversity.”
6. “I think love is when you put someone else’s wants, needs and emotions before your own without even thinking twice. Love is being able to be yourself around someone and not feel judged. Love is raw..”
7. “Love is like the color of a person's eyes, or the sound of their voice. It's seen in different colors, and exchanged in variant octaves.”
8. “A euphoric elevated feeling beyond the human body. An experience where your oras are intertwined across the spectrum of your being, physically, mentally and spiritually. Finding your puzzle piece, a feeling so complete that materialism doesn't exist. Your scents match, love is the ultimate key to unlocking everything you are..for you have an intrinsic force & burning passion that's never been felt before. Hitting snooze 5 times so you can feel their warmth just a little bit longer. Partners in crime, best friend”
9. “I think love is always seeing only the very best in someone/something/someplace no matter the circumstance.”
10. “Loving someone is fighting for someone. Its to continually be loyal to someone. Someone that you have separation anxiety over. You would sell your house, car, and belongings for someone. Most of all you never even second think a relationship and sleeping with someone or being with someone else. That's "true" love.”
11. “Love to me is when you feel totally connected to that one person on every level, where you feel totally comfortable being yourself with no worries of feeling judged or embarrassed.”
12. “Love is to me the knowingness that for a given thing you will do any and everything in your power to make this thing happy in every sense of the word. Whether it's protection, tutelage, or sexual needs, love is an understanding that you can and will put something/someone before your own needs.”
13. “For me love is the most difficult thing in my life as it takes precedence over everything else, but I would not have it any other way, it leaves me feeling scared when I'm not with her because I fear she may get hurt and I won't be there to protect her, but if anyone was to harm her, the anger I’d feel, there aren't words that would describe the pain I would inflict upon them. I would do anything for her no matter the cost, as she has made me happier than I could ever dream of being and all I want is to be with her.”
14. “I guess my definition of love is being completely comfortable around someone without the fear of judgement and knowing that you can be yourself and they will still be there at the end of the day.”
15. “I believe that love is what two people make of it. On a spiritual level, (the feeling your soul gets when it connects with another) and on a physical/mental level (how you make it work). With family you're always connected no matter what because in most cases you can't get rid of family so you find ways to make it work, it gets more complicated with a significant other where you can always find another but if you both have a mind set to be with each other forever it's a full time job keeping each other happy while also staying happy yourself. I think thats why people call intercoarse "making love" because your making love work.”
16. “Love is being cared for and caring for others in an environment where nobody needs to put themselves before others”
17. “Love is when you find that one person who wants to live your life just as you do. Love is being with your best friend in life and being able to fight through the ups and downs. Love is compromise.”
18. “I view love as pain. A deep pain that has many different illusions from happiness to sadness. I think the idea of love is more so an opinion than a feeling.”
19. “Love is nothing but a score in tennis.”
20. “Love to me is when I wouldn’t want to live without someone.”