This afternoon  I curled up on the couch and watched "The Holiday"  on DVD. It was a romantic comedy; perfect for a day when I wanted to give my mind and my body a chance to rest.  When I turned off my DVD player, I began to think about love. I came to the conclusion that life teaches us some basics about love and then it's up to us to put those ideas into daily practice in all our relationships. We advance beyond 'Love 101" in the University of Life by being willing to see situations and people differently. We need to view them with the eyes of love.

Mastering "Love 101" is one of life's important lessons. It can be love of a parent, a child, a romantic partner, a pet, Mother Nature or some other recipient of the feelings that are in our heart. The more we can love unconditionally, the better our life becomes and learning to love involves more than reading books on the subject, watching movies, commiserating with friends about how we were "wronged" or spending every free moment wishing for someone to "complete us."  Mastering  "Love 101" involves making conscious choices about our relationships and taking responsibility for our actions or inactions.
 
No one flunks "Love 101". As long as you're alive, you have the ability to increase your capacity to love and to be loved. Be aware, however,  there are tests along the way so you can see how well you've mastered the curriculum. Can you love the person who criticizes you? Can you love the person who does things or believes things different from you? Can you love after you've been dumped, betrayed or when that love isn't returned? Each day presents you with opportunities to show your progress in "Love 101." If you fail  to be loving in a situation, you are always given a chance to do it over again. It may not be with the same person but the situation will be very similar.  You will remain in that "class" until you pass. Upon graduation, you'll advance to another class that involves a different aspect of love. 

The first thing you learn in "Love 101" is that the most direct way to attract someone who will love us, or to get our partner to love us more, is to love ourselves. As stated in the Law of Attraction, we draw to us those people who mirror our attitudes about ourselves. If we believe we are worthy of love, we will magnetize someone who reflects that vision. If we believe we deserve to be hurt, we will "hire" someone to bring us pain. If we do not wish to be available, we will attract someone who is not available. And, as a corollary,  if we desire to be with someone who will nurture and care for us, we must first give ourself that honor. No one "out there" can give us more than we are willing to give ourself or to receive.

Before you can know your soul mate, you must know your soul. To get someone else to complete you means that you are not already whole, and such a self-image is a painful lie that denies your identity as a divine creation by God, Goddess, Source or whatever name you choose to use for a higher power. Certainly, we may all desire to enjoy a partner, a companion, a beloved with whom we delight in dancing through life; this is one of the great gifts of living. Nevertheless, the key here is that we have to love ourselves enough to be able to allow such person into our current course in love at the university of life.

One of the ways we can honor the one we love (namely ourselves) is to take the time to nurture ourselves spiritually, emotionally, and physically. All too often we cram our life with so many appointments and responsibilities that we lose sight of peace. We are not fulfilling our purpose during this lifetime unless inner peace is a prime element of our activity. It's what allows us to truly "hear" and "feel" the course content in "Love 101."

If you are too busy to relax and enjoy life, you may be guilty of "resisting a rest." Do not wait until the universe forces you to rest. A hospital is the last resort in God's curriculum. (I've been there several times and I promise you there are much more satisfying ways to learn about love!) Lessons in love are taught in a variety of classrooms — a hospital, a nursing home, a homeless shelter, the scene of an accident, to name only a few. If you're a willing student of love, your venue for learning will be a much more positive one. If you try to avoid the introspection required to master "Love 101", you may find yourself in the school of hard knocks.  
 

It is a wise person who knows how to balance work and play, action and rest, loving ourself and loving others. Both doing and being are important aspects of the curriculum for "Love 101"  at the University of Life. To indulge in one at the expense of the other creates serious imbalance which we must learn to restore if we want to master all life's lessons in love with the least amount of discomfort. 

In our culture, we tend to err  in the direction of overdoing and “under being.” Most people do not take the time to enjoy the ride that leads us to more love in our lives. We focus on getting the person of our dreams rather than becoming the object of our own affection. What is the use of reaching our destination if we miss the journey?  Sometimes finding Mr. or Ms. Right  is but a motivation for us to walk the path that helps us to learn the true meaning of  love along the way.

After getting our life partner, then new lessons in the meaning of love present themselves. We get to apply what we learned in "Love 101" and use that knowledge in all types of relationships, not just the romantic ones. Sometimes we demonstrate the greatest love for another by being willing to let them go.
 
Everything we experience in "Love 101" is aimed at improving the quality of our life. It's to help us cherish ourselves, cherish  others and to allow others to cherish us. We need to master all three parts of the equation. As long as we “stay awake” in all our interactions with all people and everything on the planet, we’ll pass life’s course about love and become even greater versions of ourself. Then we'll be ready to take "graduate level" courses in love that will enhance the quality of our life even more. Here's to "higher" education!