Love as a Verb
Capstone project at Parsons, Fall of 2023
We all have different meanings for love, shaped by our culture, family, relationships, and experiences.
My grandparents, for instance, express love through actions rather than words. My grandpa would pick me up from school, while my grandma would make sure I had eaten or cut some fruits for me. While many Asian families may experience fewer verbal expressions of love, my relationship with my parents is different. We openly discuss life, love, and challenges, and I'm grateful for the communication skills they've instilled in me from an early age.
While we often define 'love' as a noun, viewing it as a feeling or emotion, I believe we can all learn to love better by treating it as a verb — something we actively practice and engage in.
'Love as a Verb' is an easy-to-use card game designed to deepen relationships by sparking conversations around love, life, and values. Each category in the game, inspired by aura colors, contains thought-provoking questions or scenarios. Players take turns rolling the dice, drawing cards, and discussing their responses with the group. These conversations prompt reflection on past experiences, hopes for the future, and challenges in current relationships, allowing players to deepen their understanding of love and its many forms.
The game has been well-received by friends and family, with many reporting that the game has helped them communicate more openly and empathetically with their parents, relatives, friends, and community. By sharing the game with a wider audience, I hope to inspire more people to engage in meaningful conversations about internal and external love, ultimately fostering greater understanding and compassion not just amongst Asian communities but around the world.
