love tank: full
Where did love come from and why was I not running out of it?
I grew up in a Christian household so I was made to believe that love came from God. It was difficult then to decipher the existence of love, its gravity, and its concreteness the same way I struggled to grasp the concept of God itself. But as I grew older, I realized that love wasn’t solely confined to a religious context. Time and time again, love has found me and I’ve found it — in the mundane, in the extraordinary, and in the most unexpected places.
In retrospect, this past week has revealed to me how it’s woven intricately into the tapestry of my existence. It materialized in enduring long, cramped commutes home from Los Baños to Cavite to be with family. It took the form of prioritizing quality time with friends amid busy schedules and demanding responsibilities.
It was there when Lia gave me a mini biscoff cake because she knew I loved biscoff. It was there when Zehd, Chris, and I sacrificed sleep just to spend more time with each other. It was there when Alliyah went back and forth between her friend’s party and UP fair to be with us. It was there when Kaye drove us around QC and took care of us while we were staying at her condo.
But I also felt love in moments of quiet solitude during sunset drives by Tagaytay and Roxas Boulevard. I felt it in the bustling crowds at Feb/UP Fair, in the laughter shared during late-night conversations, in the warm cup of milk on a cold morning before going to my 7 AM class, in the breathtaking view of nature just outside of Kaye’s condo, and in countless other experiences.
I found that love was not something finite or scarce; it was abundant, overflowing, and inexhaustible. It was as if the more I gave, the more I received in return. It’s the beautiful cyclical pattern of actively engaging in expressions of love and of taking love in that has sustained me through life’s ups and downs.
So, I have come to know.
Where did love come from? It came from the depths of the human heart, from the infinite well of appreciation, empathy, and kindness that resides within us. And why was I not running out of it? Because I will always have myself and people who unceasingly and willingly pour love into my life.
Anyway, belated happy Valentine’s day! I hope you never stop sharing and letting yourself experience love in all its forms.
