Love. A concept I'm so obsessed with. I'm an absolute fiend for romance. My solace is found amongst romance books when I just need to unwind. I even have a playlist dedicated to my future lovers. This weekend, I've been blessed with Red Moon in Venus, an album by Kali Uchis and On Rotation, a novel written by Shirlene Obuobi. It's really magical when you get the opportunity to experience stories about love from women of colour. To be seen and heard with such empathy and kindness is something that's so important to me. The articulations expressed by Shirlene and Kali are so raw and light, complex yet simple. Shirlene reminded me of the different faces of love and to be patient. Kali taught me that choosing love is something scary and sacred, but the fullness your life will gain is worth the risk. They both have forced me to evaluate love. Now I know romantic love is barely enough for an individual, even though that's the narrative we are made to believe. But I never truly embraced the love I have for the people in my life. I have yet to be graced with romantic love, but I have experienced so much love in my life that I feel beautifully suffocated. I had a dream about a close friend of my dying, and my heart shattered. Losing her would break a part of my heart, and I don't think I'd be able to get it back. And that's just how I feel about every one of the people in my life. My friends. My family. They are my people. People who are beautiful in all ways. People who I think about when I see something I think they will like. People who I want to be around and make smile. People who make me want to live. Live to be my best, my worst, my mediocre. And that's just so sublime. There's nothing in this world that will take their place, and I just have to declare my love to them. I love my friends and family. So much, and I'm so grateful for this gift that God has bestowed upon me.
MOHOMOTŠI