There is no set definition for love.

But its beautiful, nonetheless.

Like real love, not the temporary, silly little connections you make when youre young and naive.

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William Randles

Not the kind of love that runs when faced with something difficult.

Not the kind of relationship thats merely based on physical attraction, or convenience, or ease.

But the real kind.

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The love that is consistent, steady, loyal, forgiving, challenging, motivating, passionate, scary.

My definition of love keeps changing.

I see people who are learning to rebuild after broken hearts and marriages.

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William Randles

Love isnt one set definition, I dont think.

Love is messy.Its mistakes and falling short and letting one another down.

Its learning to let go of little things.

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Its learning to stand your ground on issues that matter.

Its finding ways to compromise when you want to be selfish.

Its becoming a little less stubborn and a little more patient.

Its fighting to stay when you might not want to.

Its starting over, and starting again.

Sometimes its passionate and crazy, filling yourselves and the spaces around you.

Sometimes its delicate, only shared in the quiet moments where no one else is around.

Love is easy and difficult.Its the moments where you want to give up, but you dont.

Its the moments when you fall into someones arms and everything makes sense.

Its the moments you’re able to be yourself and its just so damn simple.

Its the moments you have to work so hard to understand one another.

And its every beautiful moment in-between.

But love is also a verb, an action, a continued choice todoandgiveandbe.

Love is the physical, the emotional, the tangible connection between two people.

Its being scared, terrified even, but believing in a bond more powerful than ourselves.

Its letting go of our inhibitions.

Its not holding back.

Its beautiful in the young hearts believing in forever.

Its beautiful in the old hearts, still finding ways to make one another smile.

I dont know how to define love, but maybe its one of those things we cant define.

Maybe its just something you feel, something you trust, something you know.

Marisa Donnelly is a poet and author of the book,Somewhere on a Highway, availablehere.