According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, Love is a strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties.
Valentine’s Day is the one day out of the year where love is expressed with lavish gifts and special events. For the remainder of the year, love is expressed through our words and actions. However, for some, those words and actions do not reflect the true definition of love. At Hubbard House, we know what love is and how it should be displayed.
What is love?
- Love is trusting and understanding, not disregarding and disapproving
- Love is giving and not taking
- Love is hugging and kissing, not hitting and crying
- Love is comforting and enjoying, not intimidating and hurting
- Love is patient and not violent
- Love is providing and protecting, not leaving and neglecting
- Love is respect and appreciation, not disrespecting and abusive
Any form of abuse should not be mistaken as love and affections. Unfortunately, many people do not realize the abuse they are living with is domestic violence and, as a result, do not seek help. To learn more about the warning signs of abuse click here.
How to Achieve a Healthy Relationship
At Hubbard House, we use an Equality Wheel to explain what a healthy relationship should encompass. Listed below are the behaviors and characteristics that allow one to have a nonviolent, healthy relationship:
- Non-Threatening Behavior
- Respect
- Trust and Support
- Honesty and Accountability
- Responsible Parenting
- Shared Responsibility
- Economic Partnership
- Negotiation and Fairness
To view our Equality Wheel click here. For more ways to strengthen your relationship visit helpguide.org.
This month be grateful for the love you have in your life and help raise awareness for those who don’t. Everyone deserves to be loved and live violence-free not just on Valentine’s Day, but the entire year.
If you or someone you know is in an abusive relationship, please call the Hubbard House 24-hour domestic violence hotline at 904-354-3114 or 800-500-1119. Hubbard House can help.
ABOUT HUBBARD HOUSE: Founded as the first domestic violence shelter in Florida in 1976, Hubbard House is a certified, comprehensive domestic violence center providing programs and services to more than 5,000 women, children, and men annually in Duval and Baker counties. While Hubbard House is most known for its emergency shelter, the agency also provides extensive adult and youth outreach services, school-based education, therapeutic childcare, batterers’ intervention programs, court advocacy and volunteer and community education opportunities. Visit www.hubbardhouse.org to learn more.
By: Gabrielle Morolla