The forms of love

There’s something ironic about the beautiful things in life.

When we see breathtaking scenery, we often say, “It looks like a painting” or “This feels like a scene from a movie.” And such is love.

I used to think that gestures of love should always be grand and significant—probably because that’s how movies and books showed them to me.

But as I get older, I see love in many forms. I see love expressed in those grand gestures I’ve always expected but also in the smallest things—in tiny actions that often seem insignificant and easily missed.

A few weeks ago, I was chatting with my wife about how it would be raining all week. The next day, I went to the office, and by the time I finished work, it was pouring hard. Unfortunately, I forgot to bring an umbrella. As I packed my bags, I noticed something I hadn’t realized before—my wife had dropped an umbrella into my bag. She didn’t say anything to me or leave a note; it was just there. Through that small action alone, I felt her love.

There are countless examples of small things that express love.

There won’t always be someone standing with a boombox outside your house, blasting a love song, waiting for you to go out.

There won't be any backup singers and dancers performing in the background at your perfectly planned dinner date (unless you hired them).

The love we experience daily is often quiet and unassuming—and doesn’t that make it all the more beautiful?

We receive and give it in sprinkles throughout the day: in the lunch boxes our moms made when we were kids, in coffee talks with friends, in the red dots on your phone, and in the shared laughter with our partners over random conversations.

I hope you can see how love has always found its way into your life—even in the tiniest things.

And I hope you feel loved, no matter how small those moments may seem.

I hope you find this insightful. Remember:

It's not going to be easy,
But it's not impossible.

With love,
Brian.