While the concept of love is important all year long, we all need a reminder of the important role it plays in our lives. As February is often viewed as the month of love, it is a good time to ponder the universal concept of love. Further, this is a time of great chaos, confusion, hate, and anger in our country, and perhaps now discussing love is more important than ever.

Love can be thought of as a higher power or a state you fall in and out of. Whatever your stance or belief, the concept of love most often elicits positive emotions and connotations. Ever since receiving my first love letter from my grade school sweetheart, I knew that falling and being in love can be life-changing and offers powerful emotions, such as joy and elation. There is a wonderfully indescribable feeling and sense of glow that emanates from someone in love.

bell hooks, in her poignant book, All About Love, says that to truly love, we must learn to mix various ingredients—care, affection, recognition, respect, commitment, and trust, as well as honest and open communication. We discover a lot about ourselves when we love. Being in love is not easy. Oftentimes, it puts us at risk. We change when we love. We transform.

The need to be loved is universal. Being loved supports survival, development, and a sense of well-being. It also supports self-worth and a sense of identity. I recently pulled........

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