From the day we are born, we are in pursuit of love. It's in our nature, but it is so easy to follow a love that is unhealthy, because we don't understand what love really is.

Over the past couple of years, I have spent a lot of time categorizing different types of love: self-love, romantic love, platonic love, familial love. But why does a concept as vast as love need to fit into these suffocating classifications? Love isn't the type of emotion that can just be put into a box. The more I think about it, the more I believe that love is an energy.

Love is an energy that should be radiated by everyone and to everyone. It's that simple, but this intricate mosaic of love doesn't need to be saved for certain people. The love you have for yourself, your best friend, and your partner should be spread with the same vigor. Love, as an energy, is just a vibe, a sense of kindness, and genuineness that hits everyone the same.

Maybe the only division of love that matters is the difference between loving someone and being in love with someone.

But should you treat your boyfriend with more respect than you treat your mother just because you're in love with him? No.

Should you respect your mother more than your boyfriend because she gave birth to you? No.

Why do we respect some people more than others? Why do we deem certain people more worthy of our love than others? It doesn't matter who they are or what they have done, they still deserve the same kindness you give to everyone else. At the very least, it's the decent thing to do.

I'm not arguing that you should condone criminal acts or stand behind people who don't treat others with the respect I am emphasizing. But why send negative energy their way just because they themselves emanate negativity?

That being said, the love we should be looking for is the love we find within ourselves. The love you feel within you is infinitely more important than how much or how many people love you, and when people can feel that love coming you, you will receive that your love in return. How you act is what you attract.

I have this simple little daydream that this love... this love that is the most powerful energy imaginable, can be spread in an equally powerful fashion. Love is an energy that we all deserve to feel wash over us. More importantly, love is an energy that we all deserve to feel rush OUT of us. There's no better feeling. You should be loving someone. You should be loving everyone.