Love

BySandra Gould Ford
September 18, 2021
Eleanor's Insights

The giving of love and understanding is an education in itself.
Eleanor Roosevelt

What is love?

In December, 2020, Succeed and Soar posted the five-part Love Is series. The first was “Key to The Gates of Happiness.” There, the ancient Greek’s five types of love were defined:

Philautia: the ability to love oneself and be concerned with ones happiness
Storge: an empathetic love that exists in families
Philia: the fondness found in friendships
Eros: romantic, passionate love
Agape: open-hearted, unconditional and world-embracing spiritual love

Of self love, Elani Saltas wrote,

The ancient Greeks were wise enough to understand there are two kinds of philautia. The first is a narcissistic love for oneself, a destructive self-centered approach to life with all its negative attributes. The second offers a way out of narcissism, the healthy kind of love we must give ourselves. This kind of self-love believes in its own worth and does not base that belief on what anyone else thinks or says.

Saltas also believes, “If you want to see more love in your world, it all begins with you.”

WebMD reports that loving people enjoy lower blood pressure, less anxiety, fewer colds, faster healing, longer lives and more.

And, as Mrs. Roosevelt’s words recommend, the giving of love can teach. Dr. Carol Morgan found a few, precious, love lessons. My favorites include:

Love is an action, not just a feeling.
Love is focusing on quality, not quantity
Read more.

Of self love, imagine a world based on these two affirmations:

I love myself the way that I am and I want to be better. I love myself even more for wanting to be better. – Allan Martin Osman

There’s an angel inside. – Freddie Weber

Succeed and Soar!

Celebrate!

Sunday, September 19: International Talk Like A Pirate Day

“Ahoy, me hearties!” Here’s how to speak proper pirate [including pickup lines].

Monday, September 20 : Harvest Moon

This red moon is in the sky longer than on other nights, allowing farmers more time to harvest crops. It reaches maximum fullness at 7:55 pm Pittsburgh time. Enjoy.

Friday, September 24, National Punctuation Day

From the lowly comma to the flamboyant ampersand, National Punctuation Day on September 24 celebrates the punctuation that makes our words legible and gets our point across. “Let’s eat, Grandma!” or “Let’s eat Grandma!” — it’s clear that punctuation saves lives

Image Source

Let’s ZOOM chat for 40 minutes, First THURSDAY, November 4th, 7pm

Lots to discuss, including thoughts about “Eleanor’s Insights” and this month’s book, Caroline Myss’ Invisible Acts of Power, Channeling Grace in Everyday Life.

Zoom Link will be sent day before Chat. See you soon!