Something Worth Living For

Love... perhaps the most effective word in any language. This tiny one syllable word has sparked warfare, disloyalty, and lunacy, but it has also caused unity, unanticipated experiences, and unmatched inventiveness. How can it be that a force that can be so positive can drive us to so much evil? The French, renowned for l'amour, have many engaging love stories to tell. Consider the story of the sculptor Rodin and his mistress Camille Claudel. Claudel sculpted for Rodin when they fell for each other. His unwillingness to leave his wife for her made Claudel insane and she destroyed a number of her sculptures during episodes of paranoia which was a symptom of her schizophrenia. Claudel spent the last 30 years of her life in a hospital. How could a power that can drive someone to such depths of grief be the one thing that we all need in our lives? However, let us consider another french couple. Voltaire and Emilie du Chatelet carried on a 15 year long romance which was looked down upon by the public, but allowed by Chatelet's husband, the Marquis Florent-Claude du Chatelet. Chatelet and Voltaire shared a healthy academic attachment and spent time philosophizing together, collecting books for their library, and providing recommendations on each other's work in mathematics and science. Their shared values and commitment to each other fueled their love even after her death. After her death, Voltaire wrote of Chatelet, "It is not a mistress I have lost but half of myself, a soul for which my soul seems to have been made." Despite her arranged marriage to the Marquis, the love between Chatelet and Voltaire was permitted and not envied. They were the focus of ridicule but were permitted to spend their lives together in shared admiration. Their story illustrates love in its finest form. In my experience, love is the sole thing worth living for. Whether it's love of kin, love of something, or love for a companion, an absence of love life is insignificant. Maybe this is why love can bring us to such extreme limits. For some of us, love is worth dying for. For other people, it is worth living for. As Valentine's Day approaches love is on all our minds. I wish each and every one of you a happy love story overflowing with all the best love provides and none of the worst. This Valentine's Day, show your love with a Red Hot Valentine Gift from Baskets By Rita.This Red hot Valentine's day box is perfect for all the special ladies in your life. An adorable teddy bear, milk chocolate truffles, dark chocolate and raspberry Chocolove bar,trail mix,a scented votive candle,chocolate chip cookies, Jelly Belly candy,caramel corn, hot cocoa, mixed nuts and a brownie. Box size 10 1/4" x 6" x 7 1/2" Say you are hot to your Valentine this year with our sweet treat. We all need a subtle reminder sometimes of simply how much we are loved. If you like this blog, be sure to forward it on via Twitter or Facebook. Thanks a bunch!  http://www.basketsbyrita.com/Red-Hot-Valentine-Gift_p_257.html