We have all felt passion, and we’ve all experienced love—but have we truly felt affection? People often confuse these three emotions, but we must remember that there’s a clear difference between them, and we need to learn how to recognize it.
A young man was walking alongside his Teacher. Soon, a field full of poppies spread out before them.
“We’ve arrived,” said the Teacher. “Now I’ll tell you a story about poppies. And through it, you’ll understand what passion, love, and affection are…”
The two of them took a few steps into the beautiful scarlet sea.
“Here we are, in the middle of this endless field of poppies,” the Teacher began. “We walk through it, and our eyes bathe in its beauty. Suddenly, your gaze is drawn to one specific scarlet poppy. All of them seem alike, yet you can’t take your eyes off this one. You lean down, touch its delicate petals, and take in its beauty completely. You want it. For it to be yours and yours alone. Forever.”
The Teacher paused for a moment, bent down, and picked a poppy.
“You reach out and pluck it. To keep it for yourself. Without realizing that, by doing so, you kill it. Then you continue on your way, pleased, smiling… until the poppy wilts, and you throw it away to look for another one.”
That is Passion.
The Teacher tossed aside the picked poppy and continued walking.
“Again, you walk through the field, enjoying its beauty. And again, your gaze rests on one particular poppy. It seems different from the others. As if it speaks to you, and your heart hears it. You bend down gently, seeing only it. You don’t dare to touch it, fearing you might harm it. You look at it… and keep looking, wishing time would stop so you could stay here forever. You want nothing to separate you. You’re even ready to die, just to remain with it… But then a breeze blows in, carrying the enchanting scent of another flower. For a moment, you forget the poppy and go to find the source of that beautiful fragrance. The poppy stays in your heart. You feel sorrow when you think of it… but it’s already part of the past.”
That is Love.
“And what, then, is Affection, Teacher?” asked the young man.
“You continue walking through the field. Your gaze dances with the wind. Suddenly, you see it. A single poppy that seems destined for this very meeting. As if you were made for this very moment. You sit down beside it. You can’t take your eyes off it. You know you’ve finally found the place where you belong. You’ve found yourself. This poppy becomes the meaning of your existence. Caring for it becomes your mission. You do everything in your power to protect it and prolong its life. And you stay there… forever.”
That is Affection.
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Author: Unknown
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