The greatest love of my life is the natural world. The “move fast and break things” approach of our current regime is shattering lives and places around the world. In my latest book, I call it a “globe-shaped ache.” In climatespeak, it’s called solistalgia.
I (a straight woman) have a male friend that I have felt a deep and unrelenting love for from the day we met. Despite never having any sort of romantic or sexual feelings toward him, I still value him deeply as the one person who understands me best. I often dread the day he gets a girlfriend or a wife - not because I would rather be in their place next to him, but because I know the deep familial love we have for one another would not make sense (and shouldn’t make sense) to his future significant other. Until then, I will enjoy our deep friendship and trust that even if we eventually part ways, the core of that love will still remain somewhere.
When all is said and done, the greatest love of my life now and always is my only child, my daughter. It sounds simple and trite...I've loved her since the moment I knew I was pregnant but throughout my life she has been the ONLY person that has not given me a hard time. My greatest tears have been shed at the hands of my birth family which is still going on. My beloved daughter has never made me doubt myself and has never made me cry. Carly Simon wrote a song to her son, "You're the love of my life...from the moment I first saw you, the second that you were born..." And so it is...
Love is an energy, like the wandering winds traveling river flow, moving not through mind but the most sacred of places your heart... It feels what it feels, longs for what it longs for, teacher lying truth within its roots, will we trust in it and find our way ?....
Great insight into what and how love is felt when it is from the heart and can easily and comfortably embrace the soul and mind of both, but even sometimes just one.
What an interesting thought and absolutely something to consider.
After some thought I have to say that I had one great love and her name was Lucy and she was an amazing tuxedo cat who saved me and showed me such unconditional love that even now I feel blessed that she chose me to be her person and I still feel her love.
I have truly been blessed to experience love from many sentient beings and I continue to keep my heart open so that those blessings will continue to be available to me.
Wow, this is a tough question! I'm sitting here trying to choose my greatest love, and I'm torn, because there are so many places where I've experienced a love that created a deep and profound connection with me. My mother, my children, my best friend, my neighbor's horse, my pets. One pet, my Keeshond named Bridget (no longer with me), who stayed by my side as I grieved the loss of my baby, never asking anything if me. That was love on the highest level that I felt every day and which got me through the toughest time in my life.
There is so much available to us to soak in love, to accept it from things we don't often stop to think about, like the joy of a sunset, the feeling of holding a newborn (even if it's not your child), the connection to a song that resonates with us, which for me feels like an extension from the songwriter/singer to the listener-- a piece of their soul and emotions shared. For me, love seems impossible to quantify, impossible to compare.
I adopted three kittens (Grace, Izzy and George) who were badly treated at the start of their lives.
George became sick and I tried to help him by arranging treatment at the National Animal Hospital in the UK. Even the specialist treatment could not save him. When the day came to say goodbye, I arranged to take him in the gardens as in all his short life he had never been outside. Watch him try to play in grass (he could not stand up properly by then), feel the wind on his fur and sun on his face was amazing and heartbreaking at the same time. Just before he had to be let go, he looked up at me starring with intensity. I like to think he was saying goodbye.
Perhaps not the greatest love of my life, but in that moment, I felt love so intensely (it brings emotions thinking of it now).
being someone who always felt love deeply and unconditionally (and in the eyes of many unconventionally I'd say) this question turns out to be surprisingly hard to answer...
what I can tell are some of my truths about love, that have always been there:
a) love has nothing to do with species. I do feel deep love for humans of course, but I feel in a similarly deep way about our neighbors cat, about a certain weeping willow in the park around the corner or even about nighttime silence, which I guess doesn't count as a "being" at all for most.
b) true love is unlimited. so I don't get the whole jealousy and exclusivity drama. over the course of my life I have loved more people at once multiple times. sadly I could never "live those loves" or rather in all cases had to choose one, as this concept of limitless and simultaneous loves wasn't understood by my surroundings. I oftentimes wonder how my life could have looked like or would look now if I had grown up in a different community.
that said: love for me was never about "amount of time spent together" or experiences shared or even about proximity to each other. so when we talk about the "greatest love" (which in itself I struggle with as it compares loves in a "bigger than" way) I'd still name many loves, all of them completely incomparable.
one certainly for my current partner, which is a grown love as I would call it, of in depth knowing of each other and a deep acceptance of the beings we are with a deep caring for each others wellbeing and the understanding that the definition of home includes the other person.
then I would name said cat, who comes to visit for over 10 years now. we share a deep love, that is calm and trusting and just so beautiful to experience. the trust of an animal, with whom one can only communicate through soul, to feel them trusting you, following you and feeling save with you is just indescribable.
and then there were humans over the years who I shared an "instant love" with. one that never changed, even though it – in most cases – never had the chance to flourish into a romantic one and even though those humans are not in my life any longer. the feeling never changed and if they would reappear tomorrow I know it would feel the same and as if no time had passed at all.
At least with some of them I believe that we've known each other before. And it somewhat lessens the pain of not finding each other fully in this life time, because I know there have been and probably will be lifetimes.
and then there are the night and silence, two of my greatest loves undoubtedly.
maybe this resonates with someone here, maybe it doesn't. but all over love for sure is probably the one thing I am most grateful for in this human life.
I've found that love takes on different forms depending on the relationship—whether it's with a partner, a friend, a child, or a parent. But if I had to name my greatest love, I would say it's the love I have for my mother. It's unique, deep, and unconditional. A bond that runs through everything.
My children, always. And it took time for me to fully soak that in, despite the desire for romantic love and my blessing to have that, I believe the truest love I have experienced is with them. And as adults it is even deeper than I imagined.
I definitely had a deep love with my mom. She told me when I was older that I could just look in her eyes and know what she was thinking. A soul relationship. I shared with one of my sons yesterday the content of your email. He had the same deep relationship with my mom, his grandmother. He was on a high level soccer team that required extensive travel time for practices when my mother was diagnosed with cancer. We decided as a family to be her caregivers and hospice. My son chose to be part of her care and step away from his soccer practices but he also said a prayer that he could still travel with the team for a major competition. One of his coaches said he’s making too much of his grandma. I kept it to myself that he probably won’t be able to go to the competition if he doesn’t practice with the team! But a couple of months later, another coach phoned. He said, “I know your family situation, but we have an injured player who can’t make it to the world-class competition. Would you please consider If your son would be allowed to come”? I knew the answer would be yes, of course he would go! I talked to my son yesterday and we reviewed these memories. He said that he’s only deeply cried twice in his life. And one of those times was at his grandmother’s memorial. He’s now, exploring, living in Ukraine, where she actually came from! He figures that maybe the roots that he loves and
he’s so connected to, are in that area! It’s amazing to me that we both share the same love! It took me 7 years to process my mom’s passing. After 7 years I was able to volunteer with Hospice in our area. We had amazing Hospice volunteers (like angels) help take shifts in our home so my mom could be with us. I felt, after seven years, I was ready to give back. It’s now been 25 years this May since she passed. She still lives on in our souls.
The great mountains that protect me, provide awe on a daily basis and remind me there is something much bigger than me that created this world. Such a deep love filled with gratitude.
I am very glad you shared this thought, Susan. I think so, too. Love is the power that leads souls towards each other, and it doesn’t say this soul has to be a romantic partner. Love shows us whom to meet and be with is important, so our souls can grow together in this life. I have no romantic partner but love towards family members and close friends and sometimes also to almost strangers. They are my soul companions and I love them dearly - in other subtle ways than the classic „romantic love“.
The greatest love of my life is the natural world. The “move fast and break things” approach of our current regime is shattering lives and places around the world. In my latest book, I call it a “globe-shaped ache.” In climatespeak, it’s called solistalgia.
I (a straight woman) have a male friend that I have felt a deep and unrelenting love for from the day we met. Despite never having any sort of romantic or sexual feelings toward him, I still value him deeply as the one person who understands me best. I often dread the day he gets a girlfriend or a wife - not because I would rather be in their place next to him, but because I know the deep familial love we have for one another would not make sense (and shouldn’t make sense) to his future significant other. Until then, I will enjoy our deep friendship and trust that even if we eventually part ways, the core of that love will still remain somewhere.
When all is said and done, the greatest love of my life now and always is my only child, my daughter. It sounds simple and trite...I've loved her since the moment I knew I was pregnant but throughout my life she has been the ONLY person that has not given me a hard time. My greatest tears have been shed at the hands of my birth family which is still going on. My beloved daughter has never made me doubt myself and has never made me cry. Carly Simon wrote a song to her son, "You're the love of my life...from the moment I first saw you, the second that you were born..." And so it is...
Love is an energy, like the wandering winds traveling river flow, moving not through mind but the most sacred of places your heart... It feels what it feels, longs for what it longs for, teacher lying truth within its roots, will we trust in it and find our way ?....
The very few people who "get" me & accept me
Great insight into what and how love is felt when it is from the heart and can easily and comfortably embrace the soul and mind of both, but even sometimes just one.
What an interesting thought and absolutely something to consider.
After some thought I have to say that I had one great love and her name was Lucy and she was an amazing tuxedo cat who saved me and showed me such unconditional love that even now I feel blessed that she chose me to be her person and I still feel her love.
I have truly been blessed to experience love from many sentient beings and I continue to keep my heart open so that those blessings will continue to be available to me.
Thank you for opportunity to consider love.
Wow, this is a tough question! I'm sitting here trying to choose my greatest love, and I'm torn, because there are so many places where I've experienced a love that created a deep and profound connection with me. My mother, my children, my best friend, my neighbor's horse, my pets. One pet, my Keeshond named Bridget (no longer with me), who stayed by my side as I grieved the loss of my baby, never asking anything if me. That was love on the highest level that I felt every day and which got me through the toughest time in my life.
There is so much available to us to soak in love, to accept it from things we don't often stop to think about, like the joy of a sunset, the feeling of holding a newborn (even if it's not your child), the connection to a song that resonates with us, which for me feels like an extension from the songwriter/singer to the listener-- a piece of their soul and emotions shared. For me, love seems impossible to quantify, impossible to compare.
I adopted three kittens (Grace, Izzy and George) who were badly treated at the start of their lives.
George became sick and I tried to help him by arranging treatment at the National Animal Hospital in the UK. Even the specialist treatment could not save him. When the day came to say goodbye, I arranged to take him in the gardens as in all his short life he had never been outside. Watch him try to play in grass (he could not stand up properly by then), feel the wind on his fur and sun on his face was amazing and heartbreaking at the same time. Just before he had to be let go, he looked up at me starring with intensity. I like to think he was saying goodbye.
Perhaps not the greatest love of my life, but in that moment, I felt love so intensely (it brings emotions thinking of it now).
being someone who always felt love deeply and unconditionally (and in the eyes of many unconventionally I'd say) this question turns out to be surprisingly hard to answer...
what I can tell are some of my truths about love, that have always been there:
a) love has nothing to do with species. I do feel deep love for humans of course, but I feel in a similarly deep way about our neighbors cat, about a certain weeping willow in the park around the corner or even about nighttime silence, which I guess doesn't count as a "being" at all for most.
b) true love is unlimited. so I don't get the whole jealousy and exclusivity drama. over the course of my life I have loved more people at once multiple times. sadly I could never "live those loves" or rather in all cases had to choose one, as this concept of limitless and simultaneous loves wasn't understood by my surroundings. I oftentimes wonder how my life could have looked like or would look now if I had grown up in a different community.
that said: love for me was never about "amount of time spent together" or experiences shared or even about proximity to each other. so when we talk about the "greatest love" (which in itself I struggle with as it compares loves in a "bigger than" way) I'd still name many loves, all of them completely incomparable.
one certainly for my current partner, which is a grown love as I would call it, of in depth knowing of each other and a deep acceptance of the beings we are with a deep caring for each others wellbeing and the understanding that the definition of home includes the other person.
then I would name said cat, who comes to visit for over 10 years now. we share a deep love, that is calm and trusting and just so beautiful to experience. the trust of an animal, with whom one can only communicate through soul, to feel them trusting you, following you and feeling save with you is just indescribable.
and then there were humans over the years who I shared an "instant love" with. one that never changed, even though it – in most cases – never had the chance to flourish into a romantic one and even though those humans are not in my life any longer. the feeling never changed and if they would reappear tomorrow I know it would feel the same and as if no time had passed at all.
At least with some of them I believe that we've known each other before. And it somewhat lessens the pain of not finding each other fully in this life time, because I know there have been and probably will be lifetimes.
and then there are the night and silence, two of my greatest loves undoubtedly.
maybe this resonates with someone here, maybe it doesn't. but all over love for sure is probably the one thing I am most grateful for in this human life.
I've found that love takes on different forms depending on the relationship—whether it's with a partner, a friend, a child, or a parent. But if I had to name my greatest love, I would say it's the love I have for my mother. It's unique, deep, and unconditional. A bond that runs through everything.
My children, always. And it took time for me to fully soak that in, despite the desire for romantic love and my blessing to have that, I believe the truest love I have experienced is with them. And as adults it is even deeper than I imagined.
I've not joined the candlelight chat before. Is it here on Substack? I'm really interested to join this chat!
Hi Cece! It’s on zoom, and I’ll send out the log in info on Saturday. (I may start doing Substack lives too, soonish.)
Thank you so much!!
I definitely had a deep love with my mom. She told me when I was older that I could just look in her eyes and know what she was thinking. A soul relationship. I shared with one of my sons yesterday the content of your email. He had the same deep relationship with my mom, his grandmother. He was on a high level soccer team that required extensive travel time for practices when my mother was diagnosed with cancer. We decided as a family to be her caregivers and hospice. My son chose to be part of her care and step away from his soccer practices but he also said a prayer that he could still travel with the team for a major competition. One of his coaches said he’s making too much of his grandma. I kept it to myself that he probably won’t be able to go to the competition if he doesn’t practice with the team! But a couple of months later, another coach phoned. He said, “I know your family situation, but we have an injured player who can’t make it to the world-class competition. Would you please consider If your son would be allowed to come”? I knew the answer would be yes, of course he would go! I talked to my son yesterday and we reviewed these memories. He said that he’s only deeply cried twice in his life. And one of those times was at his grandmother’s memorial. He’s now, exploring, living in Ukraine, where she actually came from! He figures that maybe the roots that he loves and
he’s so connected to, are in that area! It’s amazing to me that we both share the same love! It took me 7 years to process my mom’s passing. After 7 years I was able to volunteer with Hospice in our area. We had amazing Hospice volunteers (like angels) help take shifts in our home so my mom could be with us. I felt, after seven years, I was ready to give back. It’s now been 25 years this May since she passed. She still lives on in our souls.
The great mountains that protect me, provide awe on a daily basis and remind me there is something much bigger than me that created this world. Such a deep love filled with gratitude.
I am very glad you shared this thought, Susan. I think so, too. Love is the power that leads souls towards each other, and it doesn’t say this soul has to be a romantic partner. Love shows us whom to meet and be with is important, so our souls can grow together in this life. I have no romantic partner but love towards family members and close friends and sometimes also to almost strangers. They are my soul companions and I love them dearly - in other subtle ways than the classic „romantic love“.