In 1960 C.S. Lewis wrote a book called The Four Loves. Each chapter dedicated to one of the four Greek words for love. People can say that the term love is overused and misunderstood. The ancient Greeks realized this problem too and had a solution.

1. Storge
Think of affection. The display of love between family members and even to other people to whom you have gained a familiar fondness of. Such as being around someone for a significant period of time. Lewis describes affection as being non-discriminate and pays least attention to “valuable” characteristics that would be worthy of a higher level of love. The down side to affection is that it becomes to be expected. Such as when two family members say goodbye after a day together and it would be weird not to hug. Or when a couple say high, it’s expected of them to hug or kiss, or hold hands as they walk, or some other kind of display of affection. But this is not to get confused with romantic love, disused later on. “Where I live, when people give you a hug it’s from the heart.”-Steve Irwin. The primitive and most innocent display of love is the hug. A child hugs his teddy bear, a wife hugs her husband, a boss hugs her employee.

2. Phileo
Philadelphia literally means “City of Brotherly Love”  Where Storge is the affection, Phileo is the emotional bond. Between friends and even to family, to a degree.

3. Eros
Named after the Greek god of love (aka Cupid) Romantic love is the most popular in our culture, but do we really know it? Media stands out the most in turning beautiful romance into a one night stand. Romance vs. true love.

4. Agape
Unconditional love. No matter the circumstances surround your situations, abilities or in-abilities. Distance, disabilities, age, race, any factor that would have a role to play in the length of, say, a relationship between husband and wife. All these factors are ignored and replaced with constant caring for the other person. Family ties are full of this, parent to child (biological or otherwise) Would a father, who has never met his son, still do anything he could to ensure the safety and well-being for that son? A mother to daughter? Can a husband and wife reach this point, after being together multiple years?

What about true love? where does that fall in? does it mean to be attracted to someone for some unknown reason, leave everything you have behind and pursue that attractant? Does it mean betting formidable odds? Does it mean to always protect that person, watching over them to make sure they’re kept safe? Does it also mean that no one side is better than the other, man and woman seen equally? Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.