Love... comes with responsibility.
Valentines day is here and majority of posts on the internet is about love. Love here and there. And because love is everywhere, it is even being emphasized to high school students because of different JS Proms being organized. With all those romantic-themed proms, who would not be able to feel love?
A friend of mine asked me to help him give a nice speech for JS Prom because he was invited to be their speaker. I asked him if there's a theme for that prom and he said none. It is difficult for a guest speaker to create a speech without even knowing a theme involved or without a theme at all.
I then suggested that he should make a short but meaningful speech. A speech that will captivate every heart and a speech that will inspire each person present inside the prom hall. I told him to make a speech regarding love and responsibility. Not just the usual love for opposite sex, but love and its entirety and the responsibility being attached to it.
I have no idea regarding the outcome of his speech, but the entire conversation gave me the idea of creating this post. So what do I mean when I say love and responsibility? If ever I was given the chance to speak for a prom, this will be the possible content:
Love for yourself
Love comes from within and it's not possible to love and appreciate other people if you can't appreciate your self. Let me put it this way. Love means appreciation. Learn to love and appreciate you self as a beautiful being. Your physical features, your character, and your identity should [first] be well appreciated by you. From this simple step, self-confidence grows. And it is your responsibility to boost your self-confidence as much as how you want it to be.
Love for your family
Love was nurtured inside the family. Let's all love our family because it is the right thing to do. Our aspirations and ambitions in life are being empowered by our love for our family. No matter what you intend to pursue, always learn to remember your family together with their hopes and sacrifices. They have sacrificed a lot for you and that single sacrifice is enough to remind you that you must keep on going. And it is your responsibility not to waste whatever sacrifices they've made for you.
Love for the opposite sex
Love, respect, and trust your opposite sex. The opposite sex always complements us in every way. They complement us with our wants and even our strengths and weaknesses. Respect and trust strengthens that bond - love. And it is your responsibility to strengthen that bond in preparation for the highs and lows of the coming tide that will try to sweep off the relationship that you've started.
Love for passion
Love your ability and remember to develop it with passion. Let that passion grow as wind passes by. Be passionate with whatever things you do because passion comes with intense desire - the desire to do things excellently. Always have that burning passion with you. Keep it as you take the path of success. Always be passionate on different things. Have the passion for learning, the passion for innovation, and the passion for positive change. Letting that passion grow is your responsibility because it defines a part of you.
Love for fellowmen
Always love your fellowmen because they are your neighbor and they contribute a lot of help to you. You may not know it, but they are helpful to you. It may not be today, but in the near future... they may be. Love is also an investment. Invest by treating them nice, by helping them, and by loving them. Sooner or later you'll find out what goodness they may show you when you need them the most. Therefore, their actions towards you in the future are your responsibility to plant today.
Love for country
Our country is our mansion. We live and learn here. Everyone in this country is our mentor and this piece of land is what we represent for. We are like body cells that represent the parcel of the whole. Therefore, we should act according to the betterment of everyone. And when we act the other way around, we become the problem of the whole. We become cancer cells of the body. Because of us, the entire body is at risk and the best thing to do is for us to be removed. Trust me, you don't want that to happen. Your responsibility here is to make this country better. Always make sure that what you do will benefit the image and status of this country.
Love for the environment
Love your environment as a way of paying back to what you've earned. The environment is here even before we manage to exist. It plays a crucial role in our life because it is where our food comes from. The environment nurtures you and [in return] it is your responsibility to take good care of it. Remember, the environment is our ultimate home. Without it, we can never survive.
Love for God
Everything we own comes from God and that includes our life. Without Him, we may not be here breathing and enjoying this life we sometimes hate. Be thankful to him because of what he did to you. Among the millions of sperm cells vying to be processed, you were chosen. You, who have this very tiny percentage of winning your first race - the race for existence. Therefore, it is your responsibility to praise God and to honor him by expressing love - love for yourself, love for your family, love for the opposite sex, love for passion, love for fellowmen, love for country, and love for the environment.