Celebrating the incredible power of love

Love is a powerful, positive emotion. We have heard about it, listened to inspiring tales of love and the miracles it can bring about. I’m not only talking about the Laila-Majnu and Heer-Ranja type of love that puts this emotion on a pedestal beyond comprehension, beyond belief but is a befitting material for lore, and examples for comparison, has substance for movies and poets and enough conviction to lead many a gullible youth astray.

I’m talking about love that enriches relationships, love that binds friends in warmth and understanding, one that you can encounter daily. Greet your canine or any pet with affection and you have made a friend for life. With the tail wagging in glee your pet can lick you to the moon and back. A child’s response to your love can easily be discerned by the way he/ she opens the arms with a smile and a laugh so endearing and so irresistible that it cannot be expressed in words, only experienced in the beating of your heart and the rush of emotion as laughter, hugs and kisses become a part of the welcome ritual.

But here I want to share an experience which took my understanding of the power of love to another level. I’m fond of plants and have a particular fascination for the Chinese bamboo. The first one was a gift and the rest I bought myself, totally disregarding the warning given by someone that bamboos should only be gifted and not bought. They are of different sizes to adorn different places in my house. I collected information on how to take care of them and enjoyed looking at them and nurturing them.

One day, I noticed a stalk of a tall plant standing in a beautiful vase in the corner of my room, turning yellow. I was concerned, a bit agitated and tried to find ways and means to save it. My friends said if it begins to turn yellow, it will die. The plant nursery person said that there is no particular reason for it going bad, some plants just have that much life. In fact, they were amused at my concern.

Not giving up hope, I began to look after it even more, changed the water, cleaned it out and then listened to a voice within me telling me to send it love. I visualised it as a happy, robust plant and began to send it love and ‘get well soon’ prayers. To my delight, it became healthy. The yellow vanished and it became green. Once again, it looked a part of a happy family of five. It gives me as much happiness and love as it probably received from me. It reinforced my faith in the wonderful feeling of love and continues to weave magic in many ways, everyday.

In the words of former US vice-president Hubert H Humphrey, “The greatest healing therapy is friendship and love.” And former US first lady Eleanor Roosevelt’s words, “the giving of love is an education in itself,” says it for me too.

Love enriches both the giver and the receiver.

I’M TALKING ABOUT LOVE THAT ENRICHES RELATIONSHIPS, LOVE THAT BINDS FRIENDS IN WARMTH AND UNDERSTANDING, ONE THAT YOU CAN ENCOUNTER DAILY