Love as a Noun, a Verb, and a Bloodline

Prompt:

“Write your own definition of love—as both a noun and a verb—in relation to your ancestors.”

 I have to start by saying—I fully agree with Erich Fromm’s definition of love that bell hooks talks about in All About Love. That love is “the will to extend oneself for the purpose of nurturing one’s own or another’s spiritual growth.”

That definition sits so perfectly with how I experience love when it comes to my ancestors. Our relationship isn’t built on obligation or performance—it’s rooted in that same will to extend. My ancestors extend themselves through teachings, memories, and the quiet ways they still move in my life. Their love reaches me through my bloodline, through the lessons they left behind, through the moments I feel their presence guiding me.

To me, love is an exchange of will between me and those who came before—each of us choosing to keep the other alive through memory and spirit.

And I extend myself back. Through remembering them, speaking their names, and choosing to nurture the parts of me that carry their wisdom. It’s not always loud or ceremonial—sometimes it’s as simple as making tea, lighting a candle, or catching myself repeating something they once said and realizing that love really does live on in us.

For me, love is that exchange. The ongoing conversation between what was, what is, and what still wants to grow through me.