Ellen Burstyn is an American actor known for her charm and versatility; she has appeared in dozens of films, including "Requiem for a Dream," "The Exorcist," and "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore." In the early years of her life, she was married and divorced three times, with the last separation finalized in 1972, the same year she won her first Academy Award, for her role in “The Last Picture Show." She would never marry again, but she would go on to win dozens of awards: She is one of the few living actors to have won an Oscar, a Tony, and an Emmy, the triple crown of acting.

Inspirational author Bianca Sparacino reminds us here that letting others know how much we care is both a beautiful and courageous act, and one that can be surprisingly hard to do. Writing for “Thought Catalog,” Sparacino warned that while it’s tempting to avoid making ourselves vulnerable, putting up walls will close us off to the world, while being honest, expressive, and emotionally raw only strengthens the bonds between people. There’s no shame in telling a friend or family member how beloved they are, so seize that opportunity before it passes.

This line from Alain Badiou’s 2012 book “In Praise of Love” is followed by the author’s insistence that “the adventurous side is necessary, but equally so is the need for tenacity.” Born in France in 1937, Badiou explored the idea of love as a magnificent undertaking that forever changes the two individuals who choose to persist through the challenges they will inevitably encounter. Love, he argued, is the much-needed antidote to the self-interest that consumes so much of the world today; it is our greatest hope for connection and understanding.