LOVE IS A CHOICE
L. O. V. E. Love! A simple four-letter word that can make someone feel crazily happy or even as sad as a melancholic song. Love…is a word. Love…is a verb. Love…is a decision. Love…is sacrifice and last but not the least, love…is a choice. 

When I was in grade school, I remember answering a slam book because my classmate asked me to. Then there's this part where I need to answer the question , “What is love?” or “Define love”. (Maybe some of you might have an idea what I am talking about, right?) Guess what, I'm always having a hard time answering that part so I always end up copying the answer of the person who answered that slam book before me. ( But hey! I am not a cheater okay?) 

But really, what is love? In my almost 20 years of existence, I've heard, read and learned so many definitions of this four-letter word love to the extent that some philosophers define it also. Maybe for a parent, love is family. But let me ask you once again. For you, what is love?

As an ordinary college student who belong to the millennial age, I believe and will always believe that “Love is a choice”. Millennial people like us tend to define love inappropriately. It seems that most of us have mistaken love from infatuation. Some may define love as a feeling wherein there are a lot of stupid butterflies in your stomach because the person you are admiring is in front of you or is talking to you.  Others probably define it love if they can't stop thinking of that one person because they fell in love at first sight because he or she was handsome or beautiful. Now, I want you all to hear me out. If that is the definition of love for you then you are definitely not in the right path. There will be no way for you to succeed in this path for love is not only about that. Infatuation is definitely not love.

It was just recently when I realized about this. I was actually one of those teens who once thought and believed that love is just the same as infatuation. Not until I met someone who made me realized that this four-letter word is more than just those romantic excitement and material things. “Love is a choice”, he said. 
You, as a person, have the power and right to choose. To choose who you think is the right person for you, to choose who is worth the wait, to choose who is worth all the sacrifices that you are willing to do, to choose who is worth all the smiles, laughters and tears that you will spend, and to choose who is worth the time, effort and love that you will give. Love is a choice, darling and I can say that I am willing to choose the person who is at the same time willing to choose me despite of all my flaws and imperfections. I am choosing to fight and take responsibility of all the consequences and challenges that will come as I pick this choice. 

Imagine having someone who knows all the things about you and when I say all, it means everything. A person who knows every single flaws that you have, every single things that you are embarrassed to tell other people about, every mannerisms that you are doing when you feel nervous or even the worst side of you as a person. Imagine having a person knowing all these worst things about you but still choose to stay and love you. That's what love is all about. It is about choosing to stay and love that person despite of all his or her imperfections and shortcomings. Choosing to hold that person even if he or she is at his or her worst. A person who choose to stay beside you and still try to see the best and perfect part of you even if you are not. A person who always choose to work things out with you instead of giving you up. Hear me out people, that is love, a real love. 

Love is more than just intimacy, passion, and commitment. It is the combination of all. Love is a choice. An anonymous person once said, “We fall in love by chance but we stay in love by choice”. But I want you all to keep in mind and remember that if love is a choice then the word “consequence” is always present. Now, I will let you answer these questions to yourself, “Are you willing to take responsibility of all the consequences of your choice?”  and “Are you man enough to stand up for your choice?”. 

Thank you.