When I first read Cicero's words about love being an attempt to form a friendship inspired by beauty, I had to sit quietly for a moment. It is such a profound way to look at the heart. Often, we think of love as this overwhelming, chaotic storm of passion that sweeps us off our feet. But Cicero suggests something much more stable and enduring. He is talking about a deep, foundational respect for the goodness and the grace we see in another person. It is the idea that we are drawn to someone not just by a fleeting feeling, but by the beautiful qualities of their soul, and we use that attraction as a bridge to build a lasting companionship.

In our everyday lives, this looks a lot less like a movie scene and much more like the quiet moments of connection. It is found in the way we admire a friend's resilience during a hard week, or the way we are moved by a partner's kindness to a stranger. When we see something beautiful in someone else—whether it is their wit, their patience, or their perspective on the world—and we decide to move closer to them, we are practicing exactly what Cicero described. We are turning an admiration for beauty into a sturdy friendship.

I remember a time when I was feeling quite lonely and a bit lost in my own little world. I met someone who had this incredible, quiet way of listening that felt like a warm blanket. I wasn't struck by a lightning bolt of romance, but I was deeply moved by the beauty of their attentiveness. Slowly, that admiration grew into a bond of trust and shared laughter. It wasn't a sudden explosion; it was a steady building of a friendship, rooted in the beauty I saw in their character. It reminded me that the best kinds of love are often built on the solid ground of knowing and appreciating who a person truly is.

This way of loving requires us to be observant and appreciative. It asks us to look past the surface and seek out the light in the people around us. When we focus on the beauty in others, we naturally create a space where deep, meaningful connections can flourish. It turns every interaction into an opportunity to find something worth cherishing.

Today, I want to encourage you to look at the people in your life through this lens. Is there someone whose spirit inspires you? Try to reach out to them, not with grand gestures, but with a simple, sincere appreciation for the beauty they bring into the world. See if you can turn that admiration into a small moment of friendship.