Learn to love (Emine Nur Kaya)

Hi, today I’m writing about a very known mistake. What think you when you hear February 14th? Valentine’s Day, of course. That day belongs to you and your lover, your platonic love, your ex-lovers, your spouse or something like that. Don’t worry, you aren’t alone. That day usually is celebrated with lovers while others do nothing. What if I say you that day is actually a day of love and compassion? For example, I remember animals that day. Especially the street animals and pale animals. Actually, if I be in their place I would be very upset. Throughout the history they were with us, they were love us, they helped us. But what did we do? We just hurted their soul. The dogs, cats, cows, zebras, insects, giraffes, horses, wolves, birds, monkeys, bears, wild animals and many, many more. We just killed them not just for eat, for funny, for comfort, for leather, for jewelry, for we were angry and for more things again. I think I can read your mind. You’re saying “so?” now.

These subjects are all for today actually. Because we don’t talk about these subjects in our life and then keep dying. Because we think love, admire, compassion, fall in love or something just for the people, just for us, for someone, for relationships. But wait! Is this just what love is? No of course. We think of love only as relationships between two people. That’s why I’m writing this right now: to break these patterns. Love isn’t just about relationships between two people.

Or the nature. Have you ever thought about nature? Nature creates everything we have and takes care of us. The perfect nature lives with its waters, provides oxygen with its forests, is a natural nutrition of food and materials, and housing numerous living beings. The beautiful flowers, fruits, animals, seas, forests, vegetables, rivers, mountains, trees, beaches, snow, poles, everything it works. So, what are we doing for it? What are we doing for this organization that loves us very deeply? How we show our love and gratitude? Let me tell you that too. We throw away cigarette butts, we burn forests, we slaughter animals for our own comfort, we pollute the water, we don’t speak out against major projects launched by governments; in short, we are destroying “Mother Nature”. We show our love for her, but we also buy flowers for our sweethearts.

So, we are good people, right? Because we are love our loves, just lovers! Again you’ll say “so, what’s the connection?” The connection is; we can’t love like that to love our loves. I want you to remember nature on this day as well. Maybe you didn’t do something for the nature, maybe you didn’t want it, maybe you didn’t think something about this subject. But don’t worry, you can do it, you can love the nature like love your lover, you can save the nature, you can do something after this time. Just want it, just love the nature. Because that is a day of love and compassion.

Or maybe we don’t love ourselves. I want to ask; do you love yourself? Not like on the social media. On social media, people of all ages (men, women, children, the elderly, the teenagers and the young) are being forced to conform to a standard of beauty. Perfect hair, a great physique, long nails, full muscles, great lips, a defined beard, tall people, a smooth nose, fair skin, well-built men, beautiful women and much more. And their lives are wonderful too. Everything is going smoothly. Among all of these, how many of us love ourselves with all our defects? With our body hairs, with our strange physiques, short hair, bizarre beards, non-existent muscles, baldness, physical disabilities, genetically yellow teeth, crooked legs, weight, skin, stretch marks, huge noses, thin lips, tiny eyes, various illnesses and much more. So, that day for all of them. Love ourselves, accept yourself with everything. Love and affection shouldn’t only be directed towards our partners. We must begin by loving ourselves and loving human values. In February 14th; eat your favorite food, do your hobbies, love yourself; you don’t need any something for proud and love yourself.

So, of course we can improve these examples. Now let’s get to the main topic. In this article, I tried to explain that concepts like love, affection, admiration, addiction, respect and compassion shouldn’t be limited to just your partners. Love; love yourself, nature, flowers, animals, reading books, your lover, fruits, vegetables, your spouse, animals, your platonic love, food, water, God, physics, painting, art, children, your skin, babies, your friends, your mother, your nationality, your flag, your homeland, the elderly, your father, rain, the sun, snow, the moon, your relatives, mud, insects, mushrooms, rooms, exercising, listening to music, worshipping, your family, work, your siblings, your children, sleeping, talking, singing, dancing, cats, moving, fish, walking, running, coffee, beautiful smells, your health, ice cream, cars, writing, rest, having fun, watching movies, rain, clothes stained with food, wearing the same outfit repeatedly, your lessons, learning, learning different languages, history, cultures, literature, mathematics, your own culture, your hair, dogs, seasons, being able to taste things, laughing, special days, holidays, your peers, teenagers, young people, your birthday, butterflies, generosity, wild animals, not giving up, clean smells, talking to yourself, street animals, clocks, colors, your age, self-improvement, the violin, kindness, respect, meeting new people. In short, love life, love living…

And most importantly, learn to love; if you can do that, you won’t only better understand the meaning of this day but you will also change something…

I hope you will change think about that day after read this article and I hope you will move for feel love and success.

~ With Love ~

Emine Nur Kaya