A Small Paper about Love   By Kelsey Glascock   What is love?  The definition of love is not in the dictionary, a school book, magazine, radio, or anything else.  It is in your heart.  Your heart feels love, embraces it, and runs with it.  The most frequently asked question today is . . . how will I know?     In my spiritual aids class at Helias, we have talked many times on the subject of love.  Here are some of our conclusions:  1) Love is not a maybe thing, 2) It is not rushed, 3) It is not scared, jealous, wanting, or any other adjectives you might think to describe love, 4) Love is patient, 5) It is pure and simple without outside influences complicating it, 6) It will always be there.  I could go on, and you might say, well some of these are from the Bible.  True, in 1 Corinthians 13: 1-13, the Bible describes love, and everything it is and is not.    As teenagers today, you are probably thinking, why are you all worrying about love at such a young age?  Well, it is a big part of our life.  The Bible says, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  Most of us have boyfriends or girlfriends that we love, or think we do.  Love is such a huge part of society, and kids today discuss it more than their parents think.  For instance one girl might want the perfect, never-ending movie love, another might want just happily ever after, or some of us just want love in its purest form, straight from the heart, no strings.    Well then, here is my theory on how to determine between being “in love,” or is it just love.  Loving someone and being “in love” with someone are two different things.  You might be saying to yourself, I think those are two of the same things? Here is why – Loving someone or just love is a family love, a strong love that will always be there no matter what, this love is common among young people who say, “I love you,” after two months of dating one another.  Love doesn’t prosper that quickly.  Love needs time to grow and become “true love.”  Being “in love” with someone is “true love.”  This love is strong and explosive together.  There is loyalty, honesty, high values between both of you, and an immense amount of respect towards each other.  You love this person regardless of their flaws, you think about them all the time, and they’re your rock through everything; this love is once in a lifetime.    In conclusion, first find love within you to be able to love somebody else.  Second, do not look for love, it will find you.  Third, your heart will tell you when you have found it.  Lastly, this has been quoted from every person I have talked to, when posed the question, “How do you know when you are in love?”  The same answer every time is . . . you will know.  You think about them all the time, you get butterflies, and you can not imagine your life without them.  It is a rather vague answer because most of us have felt this way or are feeling it right now in their current relationships.  Let your heart look, search, and find love.  You might love somebody on the outside, but inside your heart will tell you.  Do not be blinded by love.