“Love. Fall in love and stay in love. Write only what you love, and love what you write. The key word is love. You have to get up in the morning and write something you love, something to live for.” -Ray Bradbury

What is Love? (And why is it that every time I ask that question I picture the Saturday Night Live skit??) I have been in love for almost four years now. Our tale isn't one of star-crossed lovers. He did not show up on a white horse to rescue me from a fire breathing dragon or evil stepmother. But I do have to say that our story is pretty romantic...

Towards the end of my senior year of high school I started dating the class clown. We had the same group of friends and never thought of each other in any romantic way. That was until we both were without significant others. All of a sudden I realized my crush and we started hanging out more, occasionally going to the movies and getting to know each other better. 

Every year Disney holds an annual event for graduating seniors. It is called "Grad Night", and thousands of students travel to Orlando for a night full of rides, music, and fun. We arrived at Grad Night at 10 o'clock and began celebrating one of our last nights in high school. I can't describe the feeling accurately enough. I was there with my best friends, the guy I was dating, and I would soon be graduating and entering the real world. This felt like my last night to be a kid. I met Mickey, took pictures in front of Cinderella's castle, and rode Space Mountain half a dozen times.

Just past midnight we were getting off a ride when we caught the last few seconds of the fireworks show. He looked toward my best friend in disappointment and grabbed me by the hand to lead me through the crowd of onlookers. We continued the night going on every ride in the park, occasionally sneaking a kiss in the back of the boat on Pirates of the Caribbean, and holding hands through the crowds. It was nearing three o'clock in the morning when we started heading to the buses. Thousands of students, with more energy now than when they had arrived, headed for the park exit. We followed the crowd. Once on Main Street, directly in front of Cinderella's castle, he stopped. He looked down at me and said, "I have been meaning to ask you something all night, will you be my girlfriend?" I think I kissed him before I answered. 

On the bus ride home I discovered he had hoped to ask me during the fireworks show. Of course our friends had no idea and we got in line for a ride just before midnight. Now it is four years later and I still feel what I felt that night. 

Being in love has proven physical effects. Over a long period of time the heartbeat becomes more regular, providing more oxygen to the blood stream therefore providing the body with more energy. When we're in love our dopamine levels rise resulting in a mild euphoria. According to Helen Fisher, an anthropologist at Rutgers University, an increase in dopamine levels has been linked to an increase in creativity, arousal, motivation, focus, and energy. That could also explain why you have the "can't eat, can't sleep" feelings when you first fall in love. Dopamine can cause insomnia, and loss of appetite! Ever felt like you were on cloud-9? I know I have. That would be the dopamine talking. 

While a chemical explanation for what happens when you're in love is available, don't read into it too much. Merely having a healthy relationship can have a positive effect on your life all around. So get some romance in your life... it's good for you!

I can talk all day about what I think love should be.

Love is caring so much about another person that you put their feelings above your own. Love is have complete respect for one another. Love is bringing out the best in each other while still being true to who you are. Love is having strong affection, attraction, and caring towards someone. Love is discovering yourself, life and beauty. Love is the ability to make someone happy. Love is the complete understanding of the other person, and making them happy without asking for anything in return.

You can describe qualities about love or what one should possess. But truthfully when you're in love, you can't really describe it. Trust me, I tried.