Baba Yaga The Wise

Let me start by saying love is weird love is not what you’ve been taught. Love is not what you expect. It’s far more than any of us understand. But here is my personal take on it at this particular point in my life.

We are often handed a “standard definition” of love before we are even old enough to feel it. It’s a definition curated by generations past, filtered through religious doctrines, and polished by the media. But as many of us discover through the actual act of living, love is far more antiquated, complex, and wild than those narrow scripts suggest.

The Many Faces of the Soul

Love is not a single flame; it is a spectrum of light. We have been taught to prioritize romantic love above all, yet love is a shapeshifter. There is the love of a friend that can ground us more deeply than a spouse. There is the love of community, of children, of siblings, and the vital, life-saving love of a chosen family.

Each of these connections requires a different part of our soul to activate. To navigate these transitions—from the fierce protection of a parent to the vulnerable equity of a friend—is a skill we are constantly refining.

Obligation vs. Presence

In my lifetime, I’ve found that love rarely looks like the examples set by previous generations. There is, of course, a certain validity to the love our grandparents practiced: a love built on responsibility, faith, and “doing what is expected.” There is a quiet honor in that.

However, there is a vastly different energy in the love where you are expected to show up without formal obligation. When you show up simply because you want to be there, without the leash of a “should,” the love becomes something more vibrant. While the traditional models are valuable, they are not the end of the conversation. They are not the only way love is allowed to look or behave.

The Science of Disconnection and Connection

It is fascinating—and sometimes heartbreaking—to realize that no two people love the same way. We are now learning through science what we’ve felt intuitively for centuries: our brains are wired differently.

From neurochemical responses to historical conditioning, the dichotomy in how we perceive connection is extreme. While some are prone to affectionate emotions, others find their sense of “viability” and acceptance through affirmations of respect and physical presence. This doesn’t make one way “wrong,” but it explains why we so often speak past each other.

A Work in Progress

I am still learning. I am still growing.

It still surprises me that not everyone views the world through this lens of connection, but I am grateful for the experiences that have pushed me to understand the limitations of the human experience. Love is not a static definition you find in a dictionary; it is a shifting, breathing energy that changes from year to year and era to era.

As we grow, we become more vibrant sources of energy. We realize that love is the invisible thread crossing between every human being—the connection that makes the world a place worth inhabiting.

I’m still a student of this mystery, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.