Don’t you always feel stupid when someone asks a question that starts with “what is…” and you realize you don’t know how to answer it, even if it’s a word you use daily? (or is that just me? 🙂 )

Dr. Alvarez, in today’s dinner and conversation started off by asking us “What is love”, and  the only things flowing through my mind were adjectives, like unconditional, kind, and giving. Fortunately, the others at dinner had adjectives too instead of a definition of some sort and it was beautiful to see the different, complex, ideas we all had of the love familiar to ourselves.

Dr. Alvarez performed a piece of his poetry for us, talked to us about his research, and engaged us in a conversation about this very topic we often run from in academia, and the hour passed by too quickly. He shared that love is a powerful tool for social change; this love within us can be exerted into the world to make a difference. He reminded us that love comes from the self and that without loving that self first, there is no love to pour upon others.

Overall, it was a refreshing conversation that reminded me to not run away from love (either in conversation or actions)  because if love isn’t fueling our passions, what is?