Regardless of how one sees life — colorful, chaotic, simple, confusing, cruel, etc. — it is a fundamental truth that, at its core, life is about love. You could argue with me here, I know, but there are so many shades of love that it is impossible not to love something, even if you love to hate.

Sometimes there are only small things — coffee in the morning, hot chocolate on a cold day, your dog wiggling his tail when you come home — and those things are the most precious aspects of our lives. 

Outlines in the Dark

Have you ever walked in the dark, trailing with your fingers on the walls, scared you won’t ever get anywhere, or simply crash or fall? Has the darkness ever made you feel small and forgotten? 

Sometimes even in the dark, shades and outlines point you the way. I won’t tell you they show you the safest route or how to escape into the light. Maybe they are just shadows and reflections. Maybe they are just your own thoughts driving you into a bottomless pit of darkness.

Okay, maybe I just went a bit dark myself with this one, but I promise you I’m getting somewhere with this. Maybe. I think so.

The bottom line is this: if we were to compare love and hate with darkness and light, most people would go with the obvious choice — love is light, hate is dark, right? But is it really that simple? 

If you look closely, how many times have you done things you regret out of hate? And how many out of love? 

Darkness is one of the shades of love. It is the light of the midnight sky, the warmth of a blanket of snow keeping safe the root of a tree from the frost of winter, the tears of joy. This kind of love can be all-consuming and addictive — linger in it for the thrills, just be careful it’s what you really want.

Settle for Less

Let’s make one thing clear from the start: I’m not going to talk here about settling for less than you deserve. The worst thing that can happen is settling for what you think is good enough. 

Everyone has a list of things they want in life and from their partner, and the list is not always complete and — let’s be real — is fluid as fuck. 

Every time we check the list, tick the important things — better said, what we think is important at that precise moment — and decide if that will be enough. Sometimes it is. Sometimes it isn`t. And sometimes it is, but it won’t be forever.

Shades of Love

You know how every pro article on a blog ends in a conclusion, right? Well, I have one for you. This section is a trap. There’s no right or wrong answer when it comes to love. Everyone has their own feelings and expectations, and never expect one to advise you on what decision you should make. Your future is yours to make, and you’re the only one responsible for it.

If love brings only more darkness in your life, who am I to tell you that light is better? I never lived your life.

If you decide to stop searching for love, that’s your call. Just know that love is still all around you in every little detail that makes you smile.

If you settled, maybe you’re okay with throwing away things you want or need for the sake of love. That’s fine as long as you don’t come to regret it. 

I’ll stop ranting for now. Just remember, there are as many shades of love as there are people in this world — we all love and experience happiness differently. There are no right or wrong ways to love— just the right or wrong one for you.