Love. A word with four letters, one syllable and many meanings. In the dictionary, love is defined as a noun and a verb. As a noun, love is an intense feeling of deep affection, or a person or thing that one loves. As a verb, it is to feel a deep romantic or sexual attraction to (someone). But, can we really define love? Can we define this one word if we have never been in love? Yes, we may love to snowboard, or love french fries, but is it deeper than that? So my question is, what really is love?

To some people love may mean forever, or love may be based on what one has, or hobbies. That's why I believe love shouldn't be officially defined. Love is a broad word that has many different meanings, that mat not be the same person to person. To me though, I have never been in love with someone, but I love my dogs, and my parents, and my hobbies. I love school, and eating food. But can it be defined by food? Love is seen in different ways in movies, and TV shows. In the movies, we see the hopeless romantic base their life around who they will spend the rest of their life with, or the guy who gets the girl at the end. Why can't that be what really happens? C'mon Nicholas Sparks, stop getting my hopes up for what probably will never happen outside of your novels. Seeing the videos of grooms crying at the first sight of their soon to be wife on their wedding day, truly shows how much the groom cares and is in love with her. Or even music. Ed Sheeran has so many songs that make you want to experience the meaning behind what they are trying to say. Personally, I believe that being in love means you have found that one person who truly makes you happy. Someone whose happiness is much more important than your own. Even though I'm 19 years young, a sophomore in college, who has no idea what I want to do with the rest of my life, let alone what I want to eat tomorrow, I know I would like to experience what love is like, whatever that is. Like I said, its different from person to person, and everyone wants to be loved in different ways, but can actions or ideas really define what this small word means? What really is love?

The idea behind "Love at first sight" is also compatible with this topic. Can one person truly be in love with another at the first sight of that individual? Yes, you could be attracted to someone, but can you be deeply in love with an individual seeing them for the first time, or is it just lust?

When I asked a friend of mine what love meant to her, I was blown away at the response. Just like I said that I loved my parents, it wasn't until her nephew was born when she finally knew what love was. "Not even just to love, but to love with your entire heart. That no matter what the person says or does to you or says to you, that no matter what at the end of the day when you get that hug or kiss goodnight, that person is in your life forever." This really stood out to me. Me being an only child, I am unable to really experience a love like this, as much as I would like.

So what really is love? Maybe it's the way one feels around someone. Maybe it's the actions one takes towards another. I may never truly figure that out, but when I do, I'll be sure to let you all know.