I was thinking about how people have begun to use the word "love" with ease, much the same way they use "like" and "um." I'm not sure if anyone else is bothered by the way it's become a term for anything that's above the "OK" status, but it does annoy me.

I've always felt the word embodies a much more powerful emotion and feeling. In my humble opinion (humble is another word which has lost many of its connotations through time), love should be saved to describe a total devotion. Not just the "I'd give my life for this person to keep them from dying." I'd do that for most any person I saw on the street! To truly use the word love and mean it, I feel one must be ready to not just give life, but all worldy possessions, time, and, if it were physically possible, one's soul.

To love someone truly is to care more about them than you care for yourself; to claim to "love" something or someone and still hold yourself more important to you than they are is somewhat... vain? Vain is perhaps a bit strong, but it does indeed embody my feeling. Often I see people toss the word "love" because it seems as though they have difficulty accepting themselves, and use the word love to help feel more secure about themselves. This doesn't mean everyone does this; I know I myself occasionally fall prey to the use of "love" simply because it has become so commonplace. But people with divorced parents, 'limited' intellect (those who choose not to apply themselves), social image and self esteem problems (attention grabbers, ie. 'popular' kids), and others seem to use the term a fair bit more than anyone else.

So, my take on the use of the word "love." To date I cannot say I've truly loved someone - at least not outside of my family, but loving family members is a totally different case.