It’s the day of the year when love is celebrated all over the world. Throughout my life, while seeking the meaning of love, I have encountered thousands of different definitions.
The feeling of being loved first began in my earliest memories—specifically, the time I spent with my maternal grandparents when I lived with them for a year. I am unsure about any lives before this one, but my memory of this life starts with my grandfather’s care. Though I don’t remember his face because he left this world when I was very young, I still recall the warmth of his love.
Looking back at my early years, my understanding of love grew with my parents and the love they shared among my two siblings and me. I was raised in a large, loving family, surrounded by uncles, aunts, and my dear cousins, with whom I share the most beautiful childhood memories.
Now, I stand here as a wife to Kritan and a mother to my son, Shiwan. Through all these journeys, events, and memories, I have come to understand that love, for me, is all the emotions tied to my parents, siblings, relatives, friends, husband, in-laws, my son, and every other person who has touched my life.
Finding love has been a process, a journey in itself. If someone had asked me ten years ago what love meant to me, I would have quoted philosophers like Rumi or lines from movies. But now, I have realized that love has always been within me—woven into my existence, shaped by the memories, lessons, and experiences I have gathered along the way. I have discovered that love is not just a feeling but the reason for living.
On this Valentine’s Day, I feel like I have truly found love, and this discovery has made my life beautiful.
