On love..Eros, Philos, Agape

Love has been all around me lately. I woke up this morning with the sun shinning in my room and thought 'oh I love it when the sun shines.' Classmates from highschool are getting engaged, some of my good friends feel ready to get married, my uncle just proposed. Other friends just went through a heartbreaking divorce, another said goodbye to her love to return to her country and family and others are traveling millions of miles to those they love to find out if they have a future together- one life, one country.
Nomadlife always has different postings from different bloggers around the world. Today I was introduced to "Warrior of the Light" a monthly newsletter written by Paulo Coelho. I just read one of his books "The Alchemist"- read it in 48 hours, couldn't put it down, so much truth and insight about life. Since I loved his book I decided to check out the newsletter and found an issue on, "The Three Forms of Love."
The article talked about Eros, the sentiment of love between two people. "The two seem to love one another. In a short time they will be fighting alone for life, establishing themselves in a house and taking part in the same adventure: that is what makes love grand and dignified. He will pursue his career, she probably knows how to cook and will make an excellent housewife because since she was a little girl she was brought up to do that. She will accompany him, they will have children and they will manage to build something together, they will be happy for ever."
Love is the most wonderfly pure and amazing thing in the world. An emotion so strong it takes hold of you and you do everything you can to hang on. Love is also hard, you have to work for it. Eros- this pure bliss- has many counter forces in the world that work to destroy it. I've always believed that love is truely love when all the hardships- distance, temptation, selfishness, uncertainty- and working through them just make you love a person more. Brock and I joke that we've never completely let go of eachother since our first night together in March of 2000 because neither of us has fallen out of love at the same time.
"Philos is love in the form of friendship. It is what I feel for you and others. When the flame of Eros no longer able to shine, it is Philos who keeps couples together."
I believe that Eros and Philos weave in and out of relationships and those that last are the relationships whose foundation is Philos. One of the most important things to me in a relationsihp is that my lover is also my best friend. Somebody who shares the same values and has similar interests. Someone who I respect and look up to for the person they are and are trying to become.
As yet another Valentine's Day approaches and lovers around the world are celebrating, supress negative feelings of dislike and distrust. Love of all forms is beautiful, A world filled with love- acceptance and understanding our fellow human beings- is exactly what our global community needs. So, remember to tell all those you love, your family and friends included how much you care about them. In addition, reach out to others-different from yourself- and build relationships.
From Your Valentine.