Love Languages

I recently read the book "The Five Love Languages." I'd heard a lot about it and was super curious. So I checked it out from the library (the singles edition because the didn't have the original).

Conclusion? Totally worth the read.

It taught me a lot about myself and other people, and it's been interesting to look at my life with this new perspective. So my primary love language is almost certainly physical touch, with quality time coming close behind. It's been interesting to note that the less hugs I get, the more grumpy I am, and I even get stressed out easier (sleep might also be a small factor). So I know that if I'm feeling too stressed or grumpy or whatever, I just need to get a hug from someone. A good hug- no lame ones. So that was one practical application. I can also seek out quality time with friends or family- or even myself, because sometimes everyone needs some quality alone time. That helps refill my "love tank," as the book calls it, and gets me through another day.

The other fun part has been trying to determine what other people's love languages are, and let me tell you, I'm pretty abysmal at identifying them so far. But it's still a fun thing to think about- what makes this person tick? What makes them feel happy? Loved? Appreciated? It's something that, especially as an author, I've always been curious about. Isn't it fascinating that there can be billions of living people just as complex as we are? And yet they are so different from us. We can never see all of a person's complexity- I've heard it explained as we think so many words a minute, and we can't speak that fast, and I doubt very much that we can gain any kind of understanding as fast as we speak the words that we think. It's so fascinating to me, and I want to understand it. So the love languages are a good tool.

It was really interesting to read about the different ways that people feel loved, and the different things that we can do, both to find love, and to give love. So my challenge is to do that. Apply it in your own life- look for how others feel loved, and make them feel loved! If you haven't read the book, read it, or at least Wikipedia it. And then use what you've learned.

And if you see me, give me a hug.

Retrospection

I've been thinking about the past. Never a good thing to do, right? It wasn't this time.

I've been remembering the friends I had and how we kind of fell apart

I've been remembering the bad times and the good with equal amounts of melancholy.

I've been remembering why I chose what I did.

I've been remembering all the heartbreak.

I've been remembering the people who left, who walked away.

I've been remembering the people that never really saw me.

I've been remembering all the fun things that don't happen anymore.

I've been remembering old insecurities

And it's good I've got a fabulous group of friends here. Because already I have enough memories with them to combat this melancholy. Even though it's barely been a month since we all met. Time doesn't seem to matter in this case.

I'm remembering dinner. Multiple times. Mostly at Heather's apartment.

I'm remembering playing 1000 Blank White Cards. Until 12:20am. That game got pretty crazy.

I'm remembering how we played Shadow Hunters instead of going to whatever sports thing was going on that night.

I'm remembering multiple weeks of tunnel singing.

I'm remembering the first night, at NSO. When all us non-Helaman people got walked home. That's when I realized I wanted to key these friends around.

I'm remembering every day in the Wilk. Just hanging out in the same spot.

I'm remembering multiple shopping trips for various items.

I'm remembering Heather's surprise party! I still can't believe we pulled that off. And then we played some more 1000 Blank White Cards. Because why not.

And after writing this, I feel better. Less tired of my own company. More able to deal with things. And who cares if it's my seventh blog post today. Seven is a lucky number right? And overall, I'm really a very lucky girl.