People process numerous emotions throughout each day, so many, in fact, that emotions rule our lives. Even songwriters and poets have trouble depicting the full concept of human emotion through their work. The fact of the matter is we cannot exist without them buy rarely stop to ponder how many emotions there actually are. There is one thing in this world that can cause a rush of emotions more than most things in the world: love.

In terms of a relationship, love is built upon many characteristics, most notably trust and communication. Freshman Grace Cottrell said, “Love is really caring for someone and putting a lot of faith in them.” It takes both sides to put in a level of effort into the relationship for it to effectively work. Senior Brennen Lee a senior said, “For a relationship to work, you have to always communicate and be on time.” But what happens when one side starts to not put in the effort? Most people fall out of love for the same reason they fell into it. One significant others’ determination has turned into a one track mind and they can never compromise in any situation. Their spontaneous nature has turned into reckless and childish behavior. In the end, the big question is whether love is a feeling or a choice. The answer to that is love is a choice, Quora states. It is a conscious commitment you choose to partake in every day with another person. Feelings are always changing and you cannot build something on a shaky foundation, as it will just come crashing down.

The thing about repetition is that the more you say something, the more it loses meaning. One of the most overused phrases in the English language is, “I love you.” Quora says, “ It is a phrase that is used to express how one feels about another, as a closing salutation when saying goodbye, or a convincing plead when things have gone wrong between people that care deeply for each other.” In the end, it is not your words that matter most but your actions. Showing the other person you love them can bring about a plethora of emotions such as fear, thrill, joy, or sadness.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human services about 40 percent of people in high school engage in relationships and “healthy dating during the teenage years can be an important way to develop social skills, learn about other people, and grow emotionally.” Dating in high school can be hard. After all, how can you know if you even like someone? Junior Nadeen Radi said, “I know I like a guy when I am able to pick them out of a crowd repeatedly and get a weird feeling every time I talk to them or see them.” But sophomore Mia Conter has a different view of high school relationships: “My view of relationships is so broken. It is because I was really hurt before.” That is another part of relationships; sometimes things do not work out and they end. They can be accompanied by tears, sadness, and the feeling of being worthless.

There is a common misconception about love regarding its close counterpart, lust. A conscious rethink says “Love is a deep feeling of affection that you have for another person. It’s a lasting attraction that goes beyond the surface and turns into emotional attachment. Lust, on the other hand, is basically a physical attraction that leads to an overwhelming feeling of sexual desire thanks to a rush of hormones.” So when you do get close to someone, try to recognize if you are feeling lust or love, and what your intentions may be. If you and the other individual have different views, it is essential to communicate them so both of you do not end up in a situation you regret.

So what is love? Love is not subjective to one meaning. It is essentially something that exists in the world we live in. It is not a matter of staying in love or losing it; it is a matter of finding it, whether that be in a place, a moment, another person, or even yourself. That is the reality of  love.