Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me. Right? What are the two most powerful words in the English language? My opinion: Love and Hate. For two words that mean so much, I'm thinking that both are overused in a big way. There aren't enough words to describe the different kinds of love and hate, so they get mixed and become synonymous with a whole jumble of emotions.
Love.
There's platonic love, maternal love, familial love, love that comes out of a general feeling of kindness toward humanity, and romantic love. I know a few people who fall in love every few months. Isn't that wonderful?! Except, they fall in love with a different person. It's like every single relationship they have, they throw the word love around. I've stopped believing those people when they say "I'm in love!" Yeah, ok, until the hormones wear off, and reality hits, and you realize that you're in a real relationship with a real person with faults. If after that, you're still willing to work through your shit, then maybe we can talk about the fact that you might really kind of like that person a whole lot. But if after a few months, it's not all peaches and roses anymore, and you bail without making a solid effort, um sorry, but "in love" might not be the words you should have used. These are the people that just can't seem to grasp the difference between infatuation and being in love. They're the people that float around with a dopey grin on their face when things are good, but they're done the minute things get hard. These people missed the memo that sometimes relationships take work. They cheapen the phrase "in love" somehow. I love being in love. Being in love is awesome. But, it's really important to recognize infatuation as a separate emotion from being in love because that's where the danger zone starts.
Hate.
I tried to think of all the people I have said that I hate. I can think of a handful. Most of them make me angry whenever I think about them. But, if I really think about it, hate is a pretty strong word for how I truly feel about them. I hate the things they do, I hate aspects of their character, but I don't really care enough about them to actually feel such a strong emotion toward them. It's more like indifference. If I never saw them again, I wouldn't care. I don't really wish them ill, I just could care less about them due to the fact that I think they are terrible, selfish, manipulative people who don't deserve my energy. I know how terrible that sounds, but it's like that song, "Hate is a strong word, but I really really really don't like you."
The other people I have said that I hate fall into another category. In fact, they are people I care deeply about, people I love the most. When I was little, I once told my mom that I hated her in a fit of rage. I only did that once, and I can honestly say that I will never do it again. I felt so guilty after saying it, and I certainly got a long talk about the meaning and power of the word hate. I swore to never use it flippantly again. And yet...I have. In the instances mentioned above, I used the word hate while furiously recounting stories to friends about the terrible things those people have done to me or people I care about. However, I would never do anything to hurt those people because it's bad karma, and they aren't worth it. In another instance, I have said it and had it said back by someone with whom the word love has been used more times than I can possibly count. So, which is it? We've both used the words hate and love with each other. And I guess I'm just thinking about the power of both words.
In my never-ending quest to be a better person. I'm trying to use the word hate less often. And I'm really trying to be understanding when other people use it. Usually, they're just really upset about something or
upset with themself and using it carelessly, but they don't actually "hate" the person they are saying it to. Although I understand where it comes from, saying "I hate you" to someone isn't okay. If you have told someone you hate them, and you don't actually want them dead, then you owe them a huge apology. An explanation for what made you say it would be nice too. And I realize this is morbid, but just imagine if that person died tomorrow, do you really want to carry around an unresolved "I hate you" for the rest of your life?
As far as love goes...I think love is amazing. I love love. If people chose to love more often, rather than judge and hate, the world would be a much better place. In fact, I'm pretty sure we could save the whole world.
Both words, love and hate, hold so much weight and power. Use them wisely.
I was on the hunt for paraben free turquoise eye shadow. I came across the Boots No. 7 Beside the Sea Stay Perfect Shadow online and went to Target to find the Boots No. 7 brand. I didn't know anything about the brand and didn't realize how much there was to it! I seriously got all excited when I came upon this huge display of all sorts of fun stuff. I was good though, and only bought the eyeshadow palette I had gone for. But, let me tell you, it took every ounce of self-control and a giant reality check about the state of my bank account not to start filling up my basket. It was just that exciting!
