I have invited a number of authors, leaders and coaches who have reviewed my recently released book, A Love Story, to contribute their thoughts and ideas, and particularly those prompted by their reading experience of the book. These thought leaders share their insights and wisdom about the importance of building deep and loving relationships.  The fifth contributor is Doug Petersen, a decorated Vietnam veteran, who served more than twenty years as an aviator in the United States Army. Doug continued to serve others as a leader in the financial services industry for twenty-five years, helping families with their financial security. Today, he is fulfilling his life’s purpose by helping others discover their values and self-worth. His guest blog appears below:

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When I was given the opportunity to contribute a guest blog, I searched from some of my past writings to find one that would be appropriate to tie-in with Lance’s new book, A Love Story: An Intensely Personal Memoir. This is the excerpt I chose from my book Inspire ~ Today’s Journey: A Life Affirming Message For Each Day of Your Journey.

“It’s hard to describe sometimes, and when we try, we get a little giddy, and a sense of warmth suddenly comes over us. Because there is just not one description of this value. No matter how we describe it, it is a valid definition.

To care for someone more than we care for ourselves, that is love. Love is that connection from one heart to another, which is boundless and infinite. No one can take away our love of another person, or living creature. It is simply ours, and it is ours to give. Love is not only in words or action; it is felt in our heart. Love is giving, and is an unselfish act of kindness. It is as strong as steel and as soft as a cotton ball. Love is that little smile we see from across the room. Love is many things, and we could go on describing examples of love.

Each of us can think about how we are love, and are loved. The levels of intensity will vary, but we still have that feeling in our heart and soul. There is one way to increase that wonderful feeling. There is one way to make the love we share with others more intense and beautiful. To go to the next level, we must love ourselves. Once we love ourselves and accept ourselves for who we are, and love that person, the love we share with others will be like skyrockets bursting in the night sky.

So the homework assignment for those that could use a little help with loving oneself, is to take a sticky note and write on it, “I LOVE YOU!” and place in on your bathroom mirror and leave it there for two weeks. Read it to yourself every morning and just before you go to bed. (If it doesn’t work after two weeks, take it down, and send me an email, and we will try something else.)

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Love is too big to be just a four-letter word; it needs to be more letters. Lance does a wonderful job in sharing his words about the relationship he had with his soul mate, Tricia. It is truly a beautiful story, one that everyone should read and reread. Lance makes “love” the word it should be… huge!