So this past week, I went to a talk about the role of love in today’s society, a topic that is simultaneously one of the most and least talked about in modern times. There’s this pervasive idea of what love is supposed to be like, that everyone hopes and dreams of, but at the same time, those that talk about it are perceived as weak. This is because love, as so eloquently pointed out by Dr. Alvarez, is a social construct. We need to remember that no two people experience love the same way, and none is better than another. Still, what we perceive to be love is an integral part of our society. In fact, love, and the ability to have open conversations about love, is the key to overcoming today’s injustice and bigotry. So many people fight for the rights of one particular group while perpetuating the discrimination of another, when the only way we can really solve any of these problems is to learn to love everyone unconditionally. Easier said than done, of course, but entirely necessary to achieve our goals.

On a slightly different note, Dr. Alvarez also reminded us that love is actually quite painful. It’s not always rainbows and butterflies, and that’s okay. Love hurts. In fact, I can say from my own personal experiences that this pain can sometimes be the only way I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I legitimately care for someone. It’s tragic and magical, all at the same time….

I once had a friend tell me that heartbreak is beautiful, because it showed just how much an individual cared about their significant other. After going to this talk, I’m believing that more and more…