To Live or to Love.

In a moment of stillness and inner peace, while I was journaling about love, I came to the realization that the two verbs “to live” and “to love” are almost identical. Almost.

Only a vowel makes a difference.

And it’s no coincidence that the two vowels are a “I” and a “O.”

“I” stands for individuality. The “I am” which is the ultimate expression of human beings. The human experience is one of solitude. We are alone. That is the reality. We are born and we die and we live our life as an individual entity. This is the essence of our physical expression.

“O” stands for wholeness. It’s a circle that is complete. It lacks nothing. It needs nothing. It encompasses the totality of life. In other words, “O” stands for the circle of life.

When I came to this realization, I felt goose bumps and a deep, sheer joy running through my body. I felt I had grasped the meaning of life.

Love is the way.

Love is the path to transform our human experience from one of solitude to a shared and fulfilling experience.

Through love we get to experience the richness of life. We get a hint of life’s true essence, which is oneness. Love help us realize that we are all one.

Now I understand what Leo Buscaglia meant when he said: “Love is life. If you miss love you miss life.”

Love is not a noun, it’s a verb. To love is to act. And it is an act of giving. Unconditionally. Freely. Without expecting anything in return. Because it is in the act of loving that we give ourselves the greatest gift: discovering the true essence of life.

It’s only through life that we can experience love. And it’s only through love that we can experience life.

~

Author: Vittoria Scagliusi

Editor: Rachel Nussbaum

Photo: Emma Larkins/Flickr