To be in Love

Photo by Jamez Picard

My wife led a yoga class on Valentine’s Day. She framed it around this Rumi quote: “Wherever you are, and whatever you do, be in love.”

When she told me about it, my mind snagged on the ending. “Be in love.”

I recognized I have an instantaneous, unquestioned translation. “To be in love” means “to feel the delightful euphoria of mutual infatuation.”

I know, of course, that love can, does, and should encompass other things. But “to be in love” typically feels like a statement about an experienced or perceived emotional state. Like, “look at that cute couple, they’re so in love.” or “Spring is a time to be in love!”

I hadn’t realized “to be in love” could also mean “to exist in love.”

What a thing to imagine, existing in love. Wherever you are. Whatever you do.

To say ‘good morning’ in love. To shovel snow in love. To navigate traffic in love. To file paperwork in love. To grocery shop in love. To clean the bathroom in love. To do the endless list of things that we have t…