Why L-O-V-E is a part of Christmas

The snow is falling, big fluffy flakes drift onto the ground and soon... it's winter and Christmas is just around the corner. I'm inspired to write about what makes the holiday season so mystical and enchanting... Love.

Whether its the love of a parent who braves the slushy streets in order to pick up that perfect present or a couple, sipping a warm cup of cocoa while staring deep into each other's eyes.. love is in the air. For those of you who aren't in the picturesque Christmas scene, bare with me.. imagine as you read that you're there, that you enjoy the extra layer of clothes and all the warm, fuzzy romance of the season.

What is Love? A very special person, close to my heart right now asked this question.. and it made me reconsider what it means to me. A few years back, younger Greg thought it was impossible to grasp what love was... I had seen a mature love between my older siblings and craved it, wanted just a tiny piece of it.. in the midst of the somewhat silly high school affairs I was caught up in. Now, several years later I've encountered love in a variety of ways and, comfortable in my skin, I know what it feels like to say those bold words and mean every bit of it.

I love you. I say it as a son to my mother, a brother to my sisters, an Uncle to my nieces and nephews, and it seems natural. Those relationships are stable, they're almost unconditional and comfortable. What about the relationships that don't have that steady constant, that hinge upon so many different things... well, I know in my heart of hearts.. that if those words come out of my mouth, there are 3 unshakable truths: "I will never NOT love you", "I want to share myself with you, everything I am.." and "I trust you with my heart".

Though relationships will change, family, friends, and romantic ones alike, once I Love You, rest assured that those three vows will never be broken. I don't know any other way to love. We all have unique ways of expressing our feelings, our thoughts, our selves... some would say that each of us have an "Ideal Self" and in that.. we love perfectly, intimately in tune with our personal expectations.

During this holiday season - get in touch with how you love and do it well ;) Peace.