Love Actually… Is All Around”

“Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow airport. General opinions started to make out the we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don’t see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often it’s not particularly dignified or newsworthy but it’s always there. Fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the twin towers as far as I know none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge, they were all messages of Love.
If you look for it I got a sneaky feeling you’ll find that love actually IS all around.”
–Hugh Grant, Love Actually

One of my favorite movies of all time is Love Actually. It has been one of those staple movies that has gotten me through the breakups, the cry sessions, the blissful moments, and the good girlfriend evenings. Whenever I watch this movie no matter where my state of mind is, I find myself remembering what is important in my life, and that is the gift of Love that we all embody and are able to share if we allow our hearts to open up and Love to pour out of every cell in our body.

This week with the theme of love ever-present in my awareness, I have also been presented with the theme of death. Now you probably just jumped out of your seat and are wondering why on Earth I would bring up the topic of death when I am presenting the topic of Love…but roll with me for a moment. I bring up the topic of death because after hearing stories from good friends this week about loved ones in their lives hanging on by a thread, it reminded me that our lives are so precious. We have these precious moments in time and are not guaranteed a ticket to tomorrow. As Brian Johnson would say, “Just a friendly reminder: We’re not going to live forever! This isn’t a dress rehearsal! Wake Up!! Live. Love. Be. Dance. Smile. Laugh. Hug. Create. And all that good stuff :)!” It is in the acceptance that we are all going to die someday that we actually start living (quoted by my beautiful yoga teacher). Living and Loving can definitely be scary at times, our shields and veils get put up to protect our hearts from the feelings of vulnerability that begin to creep in when we open ourselves up fully. Yet it is in the acknowledgment of our fears and vulnerabilities that we begin to fully show up with our most loving selves, to “Love like we have never been hurt.”

My suggestion this week, live without limits and boundaries on your heart. Live with a free expression of that unconditional love within you that is screaming to come out. I promise you it may not feel comfortable at first, but I can also promise you that it is one of the most freeing feelings you will ever feel. To love with all your heart! Now we can’t control those around us, eh? So even if the love is not reciprocated, Love Anyways…I can tell you I wouldn’t have it any other way. Who are you suppressing your love and feelings from right now, is it your good friend, your romantic partner, someone whom you may be interested in, your family? What would happen if you called them up today, Just to say “I Love You”. “Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.”

This precious “thing” we call life is a gift and may leave our side at any time, Let’s Live this week and the weeks to come with Love, Cause Love is All We Need.” 🙂

Huge Hugs and LOVE coming Your Way,

Melanie