Love is...

I came across this when a friend sent that a group of professional people posed a question to a group of 4 to 8 year-olds kids 'What does love mean?'

The answers they got were broader, deeper, and more profound and I would like to share what the kids were to say.

'When my Grandmother got arthritis , she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore.. So my grandfather does it for her all the time , even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love.' Rebecca- age 8

'When someone loves you , the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.' Billy - age 4

'Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other.' Karl - age 5

'Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs.' Chrissy - age 6

'Love is what makes you smile when you're tired.' Terri - age 4

'Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him , to make sure the taste is OK.' Danny - age 8

'Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and just listen.' Bobby - age 7 (Wow!)

'If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate.' Nikka - age 6 (we need a few million more Nikka's on this planet)

'Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday.' Noelle - age 7

'Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well.' Tommy - age 6

'During my piano recital , I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore.' Cindy - age 8

'Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken.' Elaine-age 5

'Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day.' Mary Ann - age 4

'I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones.' Lauren - age 4

'You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget.' Jessica - age 8

And the final one which probably took the cake was when a four year old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his Mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, 'Nothing, I just helped him cry.'

I wonder, if this question was posed to other groups of say - 10 years - 15 years; 16 - 20; 20 - 30; 30 - 40; 40 - 50; 50 - 60; 60 - 70;70 - 80; 80 - 90; 90 - 100, what would their respective answers or definitions be. When I thought, what Love means to me, I was inundated with so many, that I could not have one answer and then I realized that we need to be a child again and have a simple and clear answer. So, putting my child hat, my take would be - "Love is to be happy in whatever we do for ourselves and more importantly others". So, having said that, I pledged again to do more and more things that will make me happier and to do anything for people and world to be happier.

Love to experience what each one of you have to say and yes, please be a child again today when you articulate.

(One Caveat: If you read / view this, please do share your perspective on "What love means to you". Thanks)