Every human wants to be loved. And pretty much every human knows this.
But what most don’t know (and I didn’t either, until recently) is that we humans have an equal need to give love.
We may not be aware of this at a conscious level. But it’s still there.
And when we act on this need and feed it, by giving love, attention and care, it strengthens us, as much as it does those who receive it.
This is because giving love energises us. And it gives us purpose.
Our egos may try to hide this truth from us. And we may live in a world that encourages living from the ego.
But we’re still children of the Light, and it is in our nature to love.
And so, giving love is a basic human need. Just like breathing.
But unlike breathing, when we give love, everyone benefits!
Take this example:
Animal Programme at Allendale Prison
Officials at Allendale Prison in South Carolina thought of offering inmates the opportunity of adopting cats and dogs from nearby shelters.
These were animals that were otherwise going to be ‘put to sleep’.
They called it the ‘MeowMates MuttMates Programme.’ : )
Some people worried that the inmates (many of whom were violent offenders) would treat these animals cruelly, or even harm them.
But to everyone’s surprise, the opposite happened!
The big, hairy, and even scary, men became proud and affectionate pet fathers!
They are reported as beaming with pride about their pets and their roles as carers for these pets.
One man describes how having to care for another being and having it rely on him created a shift within that changed the way he thought, unlike anything else had done before.
He goes on to say:
‘I’ve been incarcerate since I was 17 years old in environments where the only thing I needed to look out for is self.
So to put everything I wanted to a side and say I have to focus on this four ounce kitten…it melts a lot of the selfishness out of guys.’
And as another inmate makes clear, saving the lives of these animals gave many of these men a second chance, and helped to save their own lives from being wasted through a lack of purpose.
Let’s Make Love Cool Again!
As I’ve written before on this blog, love is much more than romance or affection.
It encompasses many other positive states and feelings including passion, enthusiasm and care.
Love makes us strong and it truly is our superpower, and giving love is the key to unleashing its power.
So if you’re reading this, please help to make love and kindness cool again.
It’s what our world needs most right now.
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