I Love You

June 12:

Three little words. What do they mean? Well, I think they mean something different for each person, which makes saying them SO DANG COMPLICATED.

For me, saying "I love you" means exactly that - I love that person. No strings automatically attached, no assumption of undying romantic love, no shared understanding of "something" having just occurred. If I could, I would tell everyone I know that I love them. But you see, the way other people interpret those words is drastically different than the way I do. One person may think that I'm confessing to having feelings for them. Another may think that we have some deep connection that was just shed light on. But what I really mean is that I love them as a person. With all their faults and failures alongside their virtues and strengths. I love my friends, I love my family, I love my acquaintances. I even love the people I dislike.

Wait, what? How does that work? Don't people usually, um, NOT love the people they dislike? Not for me! I don't have to "like" everyone that I love. Yes, very complicated.

Some people have really angered or hurt me, but does that mean that I no longer love them? No.

Would God stop loving you if you did something that He didn't like, or that hurt Him? No.

Why should I stop loving someone who is imperfect? I know I'M imperfect. If MY imperfections mean that I'M not lovable, then nobody is lovable because nobody is perfect and we've all hurt someone at one time or another. Luckily, there's grace and unconditional love.

So, I love my friends AND my love language is physical touch. Hugs, hand-holding, arms brushing, ect. Unfortunately, showing my platonic (non-romantic) love for my friends usually causes some confusion. "Do you like him?" "You're such a flirt!" "You're SO leading him on!" So, by society's laws, I cannot tell my non-female friends that I love them, nor can I show them that I love them through the way that I am wired to convey my love. This makes for a very unhappy Annie whose friends don't understand how much she cares about them.

Normally, after a conversation with a friend (be that face-to-face or by text/messenger) I feel like saying (or typing) "I love you". Normally, I do not. For obvious reasons: confusion, misleadings, awkwardness. I wish it were socially acceptable to tell people that you love them... I know I know, there ARE other ways to convey the same sentiment: "I appreciate your friendship", "I love ____ about you", ect. But why can't I just say "I love you" with no HIDDEN meanings? *cue petulant whine*

So, that's my rant for the day. I guess it's okay to say "I love you" to my readers because it's not a particular person, so: I love you! Have a great day! Keep it classy!