A moment of inspiration came over me when I woke up on Saturday, September 8, 2012. Inspired after an interesting dream while staying in a hotel room in Atlanta with my husband and son, the following words came out of me and still stand true in my heart as the definition of love for me:

Love in a relationship is like water to the body. It is not the only source required to survive, however without it, the body, like the relationship, would die. Sometimes love in our relationships will be a river, constantly flowing, moving and abundant. With years, it may become more of a lake, steady, still and reflecting the beauty of its years in existence. During arguments, it may be a stormy sea, filled with waves and anger. However, it will always be present. If there is a drought, we must hope for rain, because without love, the relationship will end. As in water, we need love to survive, grow and thrive. To say we are unsure of whether we love our partner, friend or family anymore is to say we are unsure we are willing to water our plant and yet still expect it to live. To survive, we must add other items such as understanding, trust, compassion, respect, mutual goals, communication and humility. We must let go of our ego and give in wholly, regardless of our fear of the relationship dying or our heart breaking. However, love, like water, is the source and foundation. It is the beginning, middle and end of every story.