Love Is For All!

Our ability to feel emotions comes from our extraordinary ability to loveLove is a feeling of closeness, intimacy, affection, or gene... More. Each of us has felt that emotion where we want someone’s love, care, and attention, regardless of our age, gender, sexual preferences, and race. Every person is capable of feeling and sharing love, and given that Valentine’s Day is around the corner, what can be a better time to celebrate “love for one, and love for all”?

The first feelings

The giddiness of first love is hardly replicable. When was the first time you felt something “special” for someone? For most people, that would be in their teens or early 20s. Just because you felt a certain way doesn’t mean it was a relationship. It could have been a mix of emotions, hormones, and love. With time, of course, the feelings change, but one thing remains constant – the ability to feel.

Beyond age and numbers

The proverb “age is just a number” is often overused, but it is most fittingly true when it comes to love. Unfortunately, many of us wouldn’t frankly encourage people, especially our seniors and elders, to find love after a certain age. Gone are times when love was all about finding the “one true soulmate” in our 20s. Yes, countless romantic movies have reinforced that time and again, but not everyone finds their “happily ever after” immediately. As divorce rates continue to spike across continents, people are choosing to find love and be loved, regardless of their age. In the age of Tinder and Bumble, there are specific datingDating meant visiting one another person regularly to judge ... More apps designed for men and women over the age of 50. Finding like-minded people of the same age for potential dating has never been easier, thanks to the evolving tech and apps.

Beyond genders and identities

In pop culture, when David Rose from Schitt’s Creek superbly said – “I like the wine, and not the label”, it created an immediate sensation. Long before, the famous French philosopher Michel Foucault did extensive research on sexualityA person’s identity in relation to their sexual desires an... More and how society has misused the word in many ways to exercise control. PansexualDescribes a person whose romantic and/or physical attraction... More, omnisexual, gynosexual, demisexual, sapiosexual, androgynosexual, asexual, gayAlso known as homosexual, a sexual orientation in which a pe... More, lesbianA woman who is romantically and/or physically attracted to o... More, and heterosexual – labels have evolved with time. Sadly, society continues to think on certain lines!

The Netherlands was the first country to legalize same-sex marriageThe act through with the union of people is legally recogniz... More in 2001. Numerous countries, including South Africa, Canada, Sweden, Brazil, and even smaller countries like Malta, followed the suit. In countries like India, things have been slow but steady. The country’s highest overturned the ban on homosexuality in 2018, and that’s considered a huge milestone for LGBTQ rights in India.
Beyond the numbers and gender labels, love remains neutral. It cannot be measured in ways the society perceives it. Anyone can fall in love and with anyone of their choice, and that’s the world we need.

Beyond the conventional notions

Due credit should be given to our pop culture and movies for bringing stories that defy the conventional notion of “boy meets girl” love. In the 2007 Ryan Gosling-starrer “Lars and the Real Girl”, the titular character falls in love with a doll he finds on an adult portal. Of course, there is Joaquin Phoenix’s incredible movie about falling in love with AI – “Her”.
Long before “50 Shades of Grey” became a rage, there was Maggie Gyllenhaal-starrer “Secretary”, which was about love but also about dominant-submissive relationship. Way back in 1971, there was a movie called “Harold and Maude”, where an 18-year-old boy falls in love with a 79-year-old.

Let’s not also forget the beautiful “Shrek”, which broke every idea that we had about fairytales. The other cinematic gem that deserves a mention is “The Shape of Water” (2017), where Sally Hawkins falls in love with a humanoid amphibian.

Beyond the heart & body

Not to sound trite, but love extends beyond what we see and perceive. At times, it’s a tender moment we share with someone special, while on other occasions, it’s a whirlwind of emotions. It is also about intimacyIntimacy refers to a close bond between loved ones. It can b... More – Our ability to feel love through our body. The thrill of having someone close to the mind, body, and heart, doesn’t have to be defined by words or how others see it.
This Valentine’s Day, take a moment to feel your emotions and acknowledge the heart’s true desires. There is no right or wrong way of loving someone – It is more to do with how you let those emotions make you better. Make room for conversations surrounding love because many are still struggling to face their own emotions.

No one needs validation, but everyone needs empathy. Everyone deserves a love story, and it doesn’t have to fit a bracket.