I say to everybody, love is what wakes you up in the morning

"I say to everybody, love is what wakes you up in the morning, love is what makes you walk, and love is what makes you hope." — Jerry Lewis. In these words, Jerry Lewis speaks to the most primal and powerful force in the human experience: love. It is not just a fleeting emotion or a passing feeling, but the very foundation of life itself. To say that love is what wakes you, what drives you forward, and what fills you with hope is to acknowledge that love is the fuel that powers our existence. Without love, there is no purpose, no reason to rise in the morning or move through the world with meaning. It is through love that we are called to action, to growth, and to connection with others and with the world around us.

The ancients understood the immense power of love, though they expressed it in different ways. The Greeks, in their writings, often spoke of Eros, the god of love, as the force that drives both humans and gods. Eros was not merely a fleeting affection; he was the force that compelled individuals to act, to strive, and to seek connection. Plato, in his Symposium, explored the nature of love, describing it as the most divine and elevating force in human life. For Plato, love was not simply about romantic desire, but a pursuit of truth, beauty, and virtue. In this, Jerry Lewis echoes the ancient wisdom: love is not just a feeling, but the very energy that shapes and drives our lives.

In the same vein, consider the story of Hercules, the great hero of Greek myth. His tasks, though seemingly impossible, were driven by a deep sense of love for his family and his people. Each labor he undertook, each monster he defeated, was not for personal glory but for a greater purpose—to protect those he loved. Hercules’ love for his family, his sense of duty and sacrifice, woke him up each day, gave him the strength to walk through the most arduous challenges, and instilled in him the hope that no matter the obstacles, he could overcome them for the sake of those he held dear. In this myth, we see the embodiment of Lewis' words: love is the driving force that propels a hero forward, even when faced with insurmountable odds.

The story of Antigone, the daughter of Oedipus in Sophocles’ tragedy, provides another example of love’s ability to shape a person’s actions and fate. Driven by her love for her brother, Polynices, who had been left unburied, Antigone defies the king’s decree and risks her life to give him a proper burial. Her love for her family compels her to act, to walk through danger, and to face certain death. In Antigone, love is not just a passive emotion—it is a force that moves her to stand up against authority, to fight for what she believes is right, and to embrace hope even in the face of dire consequences. Like Lewis, Sophocles understood that love is the essence of life’s most heroic acts, the very force that drives us to move, to sacrifice, and to endure.

In our own lives, we too must recognize that love is the energy that sustains us. Consider how the love we have for our families, for our work, or for our passions shapes our actions. When we wake in the morning, it is love that motivates us to rise, to care for others, to fulfill our responsibilities, and to pursue our dreams. It is love that gives us the strength to face the trials of the day, knowing that what we do matters because it is driven by something larger than ourselves. Just as Lewis suggests, love is not just a passive feeling but the very force that drives us forward, that keeps us moving when life feels overwhelming.

The lesson from Jerry Lewis and the ancient stories is clear: love is not simply something we feel, but something we do. It is the action of waking up each morning with purpose, of walking through the challenges with resolve, and of holding onto hope even when the road seems uncertain. Love calls us to rise above the difficulties, to face the world with open hearts, and to act in ways that not only benefit ourselves but those around us. It is the most powerful force we possess, capable of turning the ordinary into the extraordinary and the mundane into the meaningful.

So, as you go about your days, remember that love is what wakes you, what drives you, and what fills you with hope. When you feel weary or uncertain, recall that love is the fuel that powers you forward. Whether it is the love for those around you, the love for the work you do, or the love for the purpose you are pursuing, love is what gives your life meaning and direction. Let it guide your actions, fill your heart, and be the source of your strength. In doing so, you will find that, like the ancients and the great figures before us, you too can walk through life with purpose, fueled by the most powerful force of all: love.