Don't Underestimate Love

Photo courtesy of Denison.edu

This past weekend, a fellow Denisonian passed away. He was a senior, about to graduate in a few months. While I did not know him personally, I soon felt the impact of this loss from all of my friends’ posts on Facebook. Some were personal, some mourning, some strengthening.

It is easy in times like these to focus on the mantra of life being too short and precious and needing to recognize the value of each moment we are given. However, that is not what struck me on Sunday night when I was reading these posts.

What overwhelmed me was the sense of community I saw amongst Denison students and alumni. An outpouring of love and encouragement and shared grieving from people I had known from all walks of my Denison experience. Each voice calling on their peers and colleagues to stay strong and stay together, that is how we will get through this hard time.

Saturday night, as Denison students were gathered upon hearing the news, University President Adam Weinberg said, “The strength of our community lies in how we come together in times like these. We are strong in moments of joy and celebration, but we are also strong in moments of sorrow and loss. Tonight we all need to be there for each other.”(via TheDen)

This simple expectation of community says everything. We can rely on each other, simultaneously offering a shoulder while leaning on that of a close friend. We are openly affirming each other’s value as part of this community. This instantaneous connection I felt when I was on my News Feed was powerful and humbling. I often forget the influence love and relationships can have in my life until I see them spelled out in front of me.

The other week for a Spirituality Night my house focused on Meditation. As part of our experience, we listened to an exercise of affirmation. In the beginning of the exercise, once you have centered in on the moment, you are asked to think of one person who immediately triggers happiness in you, someone with whom you don’t have a complicated relationship, but simply elicits happiness when you think about them. Once you have this person in mind, you begin to compliment them. Tell them “You are kind. You are generous. You are worthy. You are important.” You imagine yourself saying these words to them, affirming them.

Then, you flip the exercise and you imagine your friend saying these things to you. Now “I am kind. I am generous. I am worthy. I am important.” When this switch happened, a knot was released in my stomach and I felt this literal glow coming from inside of me. I forgot what it was like to feel valued and appreciated so openly. I felt loved and important.

I realized how rare the occasions are when we actually, directly, appreciate the people who are important to us. When we take the time to reach out to our community of family and loved ones and acknowledge their presence. When we intentionally value the people in our lives without pretense. It feels beautiful.

And that is what I feel again now. I feel a direct call to being loved, and being supported. I feel a part of a relationship more meaningful and impactful now that it has been articulated. And I want to continue to spread that awareness and love.