On Love...

By Amy Stewart, LMFT, CST

And here we are on the precipice of Valentine’s Day.  Folks across centuries and around the globe have spent countless hours and bottomless wells of ink summing up this thing called LOVE. Unfortunately for all of us, those summaries primarily take a hard right into the direction of idealization and romanticism. Or they slide right on down to the opposite end of the spectrum and slink into the dark abyss of heartbreak, loneliness and unmet towering expectations- in part based on a steady diet of those soaring Disney castles. Neither of these stances do us any favors. 

What would life be like if we all chose to settle a little more into the actual lived reality of love and relationships? Creating a shared vision that acknowledges things like the impact of laundry, loud chewing and the absolute requirement of self-editing? 

In honor of February 14th, I gift to you just that:

Philosopher Alain de Botton’s On Love at the Sidney Opera House is an honestly delightful, insightful journey through the very heart of our concepts of love and coupling up, culminating in some of the absolute best wedding vows I’ve ever been privy to.  I cannot adequately express how much each and every person could benefit from a watch or listen and invite you to find an hour this week to do just that- chocolates, roses and candlelight entirely optional.