“Love never dies a natural death. It dies because we don’t know how to replenish its source. It dies of blindness and errors and betrayals. It dies of illness and wounds; it dies of weariness, of witherings, of tarnishings.”
Anaïs Nin
A week ago, peaceful flower shops transformed into chaotic centres of colour and lively chatter. Chocolate stores were jammed with customers selecting the finest truffles and bonbons. Valentine’s Day cards, in electronic and paper form, were being exchanged. Three days later, we have all moved on.
Valentine’s Day celebrates love. Even so, love cannot be contained within a 24 hour period, once a year. It belongs to every minute, day and month, decade that we live and breathe in this world. Love has the capacity to expand beyond the customary restrictions of time and space. There is an abundance of love if there is a willingness to recognize and accept the form in which it is offered. An open heart does not signify naivety, but a rejection of apathy and indifference.
“The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness, it’s indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it’s indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it’s indifference.”
Elie Wiesel
Lady Budd 
“An open heart does not signify naivety, but a rejection of apathy and indifference.” Beautiful.
In my humble opinion, I’ve personally experienced you firmly believe so, in every word you say. Your life is a living example of love and harmony. Allow me to add here, an open heart looks beyond human errs and is all-encompassing.
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My dear friend, I am honoured by your heartwarming words and for sharing your wisdom. I agree – an open heart looks beyond the missteps of other to look at the whole person. That is how and why we can continue…
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Beautiful words, as always! We must not forget to celebrate love even though the stores have stopped with it 😀
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Thank you so much for joining the dialogue. Vincent Van Gogh once said that “Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.” I think that is the way of love – small things done with love generate amazing possibilities.
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I believe both van Gogh and you are right! 😀
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Ah, your visits always make my day. 🙂
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I wonder how many libraries or rooms we would need to store all the books and all the poems and all the music that reference love. I wonder how much of the internet is filled with the word love. Is it the most used word, I wonder?.
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A very good point! Love is so important to humanity, that we cannot stop writing about it. As Max Muller once said, “A flower cannot blossom without sunshine, and man cannot live without love.”
Max Muller
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“The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference.” – that is true. Great citation!
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Thank you for stopping by! If we are indifferent to those around us, it really means we care little for ourselves. The longer I live, the more I realize that the only thing this is truly important are those moments when we have connected with others.
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Did we ever say: “Oh well, what is the difference? I can’t do anything about that anyway” That is as bad as “I don’t care,” We must cultivate a discerning heart and mind and run from indifference like it is the plague. Thanks to Elie Wiesel and Anais Nin–outstanding post.
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I agree wholeheartedly. We cannot be indifferent to the life that has been granted to us. E. W. Howe once said, “The most destructive criticism is indifference.”
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Such a wonderful reminder that love is something that needs to be nurtured. Like the plants the create the beautiful flower, sun, water and the earth gives it life.
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Well said! I especially appreciate your linkage with our environment. We have been indifferent to our fellow travelers and all life forms on our beautiful planet, far too long.
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Yes. The Weisel quote is just so accurate.
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Thank you, Cindy! Human dynamics are so complex, but one thing is universal, indifference kills our spirit.
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I agree with all you have said here and feel it is possible to relate to love whenever there is common ground between two people (or more); to listen to one another, without prejudice, without expectation and without indifference. It’s kind of behind ‘everything’ I find inspiration with.
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device
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Oh…well said! “without prejudice, without expectation and without indifference!” These are the words of transformation, of progress, of hope.
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Dear friend … I know very well :”The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference” … I know very well …
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My dear friend, I thought of your when I wrote this post!
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Thank you …
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🙂
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beautiful post as always!
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Thank you so much for joining the dialogue. I look forward to your visits!
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Love needs to be expressed not only today or tomorrow..but always, that’s what I think.
P.S : I love your blog , it’s amazing!!
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I am delighted that you stopped by for a visit and joined the discussion! I am looking forward to our ongoing dialogue!!! Thank you….
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Thank you too, for the beautiful welcome!
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🙂
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