Happy Valentines Day
Since it is Valentines Day I want to talk about “What is Love?”
“What is love? Baby don’t hurt me! Don’t hurt me! No more!” Quote from a song by Haddaway.
Love was the most searched phrase on Google in 2012, according to the company. I wanted to do my own search about love and found a website called the guardian which I will attempt to summarize quickly for you. They had experts in the fields of science, psychotherapy, literature, religion and philosophy to give their definition of what love is.
The physicist says: ‘Love is chemistry’– Love involves chemicals like (pheromones, dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin, oxytocin and vasopressin) all acting in biological order to produce a powerful neurological response.
The psychotherapist says: ‘Love has many guises’ – Defining love in its different entities as follows:
Philia-friendship love; Ludus-playful or flirting love; Pragma-mature love developed over time between couple; Agape-generalized love like a love for humanity; Philautia-loving oneself or self acceptance
and the ever so popular and troublsome ‘Eros’-sexual passion and desire. I think it was Bill Clinton who said “to eros is human”. Not sure though.
The Philosopher says: ‘Love is a passionate commitment’– all love is a kind a passionate commitment that we nurture and develop. That’s why it is more than just a powerful feeling. Without the commitment, it is mere infatuation. Without the passion, it is mere dedication. Without nurturing, even the best can wither and die. Deep right?
The romantic novelist: ‘Love drives all great stories’ – Love is the driver for all great stories: not just romantic love, but the love of parent for child, for family, for country. Mushy?
The nun: ‘Love is free yet binds us’ – Love is more easily experienced than defined. As a theological virtue, by which we love God above all things and our neighbor’s as ourselves for his sake. We express love in acts of kindness, generosity and self-sacrifice. Love’s the one thing that can never hurt anyone, although it may cost dearly. The paradox of love is that it is supremely free yet attaches us with bonds stronger than death. It cannot be bought or sold; there is nothing it cannot face; love is life’s greatest blessing. My favorite definition.
The Physical Therapist: Love is a four letter word that we use to answer other four letter words, that slip off the lips of patients who sometimes suffer from another four letter word – called pain. So when we tell our patients that the current pain we are inflicting is really just tough love, often times the patients’ response is, in a high pitched voice, sometimes, but not always in tune, “What is Love? Baby don’t hurt me! Don’t hurt me! no more!”
A famous song that depicts love as being some sort of painful experience is probably not the best advertisement for a Physical Therapy company. However, Physical Therapy does not have to be painful. As a matter of fact, most of our patients experience quite the opposite. Our job is to get rid of the pain as fast and effectively as modern science allows.
First Choice Physical Therapy Contest-
So, on this day dedicated to love, I wish everyone a very happy Valentines Day. I have included a YouTube link below to 40 famous love songs for your listening pleasure. Tell us which one is your favorite and why and it could be worth a prize package from First Choice Physical Therapy.
Top 40 Love Songs for your listening enjoyment.
http://m.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxapcT_Uy6khvJ4WiBWrzDCwCyveGLIwv