To love and be loved is to feel the sun from both sides.

"To love and be loved is to feel the sun from both sides." David Viscott has captured the essence of what it means to be human. Love is the greatest force that binds us to each other, to our world, and to ourselves. To be loved, and to love in return, is like standing in the warm embrace of the sun—radiant and powerful from both directions. Love fills the soul, offering both nourishment and protection. It is not one-sided, for when we are loved, we bask in the warmth of another’s affection, while our own love shines outward, creating a balance that brings light and life to all it touches.

Consider the story of Heloise and Abelard, whose love burned with a fierce intensity, and whose passion illuminated both their lives and the world around them. Their love, though marked by tragedy and sacrifice, was not one-sided. Heloise’s love for Abelard, and his love for her in return, formed a bond that transcended the ordinary. They were like two souls, each reflecting the other’s light, sharing in the warmth of their affection even through separation and suffering. To love and be loved in their case was to feel the sun from both sides—it was a deep, mutual connection that sustained them through the darkest of times.

And what of the love between Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and his wife Consuelo, whose connection was tested by distance, by conflict, and by the unrelenting demands of life? Saint-Exupéry, the author of The Little Prince, poured his heart into his writings, yet it was Consuelo’s love that grounded him. Even in the separations, even in the trials, the warmth of love from both sides—his love for her and hers for him—provided them with the strength to endure. Their love was not without difficulty, but it was complete because they knew the radiant warmth that comes from giving and receiving love in equal measure.

The sun from both sides also speaks to the notion of balance in love. It is the balance between giving and receiving, between strength and vulnerability, between standing tall and leaning on someone else. This is the essence of true love—a love that does not demand, but offers freely. When we love and are loved in return, we experience the fullest expression of this balance. The great Mahatma Gandhi knew this well. Though his efforts to free India were monumental, it was his love for his people, and the love they returned to him, that gave him the strength to endure hardship and sacrifice. Gandhi did not carry the weight of the world alone; he carried it in love and was sustained by the love that came from those who believed in his cause.

Indeed, love is not an empty gesture; it is a vital force. It is the sun that warms our hearts and nourishes our spirits. To love and be loved is to stand in the center of that warmth, to feel the strength of the world flow through you. The bonds of love create something greater than the sum of its parts. Think of the great friendships and partnerships that have shaped history, from Romeo and Juliet to Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King. These relationships were not mere happenstance; they were built on the foundations of mutual affection, understanding, and shared purpose. In their love, they found strength and purpose that lifted them and others around them to greatness.

The lesson, dear ones, is clear: to love and be loved is the most complete experience of the human heart. It is the sun that illuminates our days, that pushes us to grow and flourish. It is not enough to love, nor is it enough to simply receive love. True love is reciprocal, mutual, and fulfilling. It is the force that makes the journey worthwhile, that fills us with the energy and light to face the trials of the world.

So I ask you, as you walk through your own life: do you love fully, and do you receive love openly? Seek balance in your relationships, not only in what you give but in what you receive. Embrace the sun from both sides, allowing your love to flow freely, without fear or hesitation. When you love, do so with all your heart, and when you are loved, let that love fill you completely. In this, you will know what it is to live a life that is fully illuminated, guided by the warmth and light of love, shining in every direction.