Category Archives: love

Love Notes for Humanity

Posted on by
Reply

My friends, you MUST listen to the Crowns Series by Nicola Tyche! I have only a little over five hours left of the trilogy and I’m getting sad already that it will end. WHAT a ride, though! I want to write a proper post/review after these thirty days are finished–can’t wait can’t wait! I’m still texting Phara every few minutes during each listening session and she is such a strong, non-spoiling, encouraging book friend!
Besides the brilliant story, literary writing, masterful plot with the most wicked twists, I love the characters the best. They are all just so human, all doing their best to uphold their core values, face challenges to their prejudices with honesty and courage, and they love so bravely and authentically. It warms and breaks my heart all at the same time. I could not recommend these books strongly enough!

Humanity. Let us all honor and uhpold it in ourselves and all we encounter, yes?
Let’s see if I can muster messages that help:

  1. Joy Connection Understanding Acceptance Belonging *LOVE* May you find all of these in overflowing abundance in all of your relationships!

2. Feel all your emotions! And regulate your actions. Say sorry and mean it when you hurt someone. We all make mistakes. We are SMART, so we can LEARN. You’ got this.

3. Thank the gods for our creative and artist humans! They help us fully experience this amazing life and we are so lucky to have them! Big love and light to you!

4. We are born and made to live in relationship. Family, tribe, friendship–it all matters and shapes us. Wishing with all of me for your relationships to hold and lift ALL OF YOU!

5. Hello my dear fellow human. When I meet you, may I always remember that you and I both have loved ones who want the best for us, and that we are all worthy.

6. To first identify, then acknowledge and embrace our fears, this is courageous humanity. Maybe we cannot muster it all the time, so let’s *celebrate* when we do! That’s awesome.

7. “You see me.” I think this rivals “You love me” or “I love you” as the most connecting expression between two humans. Yeah.

8. When I see you, I think of your mom and how much she loves you. And it makes me love you a little more too. Can we just look at each other this way more?

9. OMG how we ALL fuck up every day! Is it not phenomenal?? So let’s just accept and expect it already, yes? Own it, mend it, and keep going–do better next time.

10. Every day, my friend, I wish you a rhythm of inspiration that manifests in music and DANCE. To move your body to a beat is an energy we all need. Even better with others, too!

11. My dear darling friend, your feelings are VALID. Please allow them, move through them, and maybe explore and understand them, if you can. Then rest and find your people. They can help.

12 We are human. We love whom we love. We can love anyone in any way, and that love can also evolve. Nothing about love is binary or restrictive. How wonderful!

Oh there is definitely more here. Doesn’t it feel like I write a love note a day for a year for every one of these topics? What if I could do that for a living? Hmmmm… Love notes, love letters, sending love, landing it squarely on others’ consciousness exactly how it’s needed in the moment–that would be an amazing day job. More tomorrow!

Love Notes for Remembrance

Posted on by
5

May her memory be a blessing.

Today I attended the funeral and life celebration of Mary Deeley, friend of decades, teacher, preacher, and leader of the Sheil Catholic Center community at my alma mater, Northwestern University. Funny, and I think a little divine, that I wrote notes for reunion two nights ago. Father Ken Simpson celebrated the mass today, and I felt at home, seeing so many familiar faces from decades of relationship. Mary’s spouse spoke with love and humor, just as I imagine Mary would have wanted. It was a whirlwind day of smiles, hugs (so many hugs, it was awesome), and memories. What a lovely reminder for what’s important in life (our relationships) and how to spend the finite time and attention we are given (not much at all, and duh, on relationships).

Let’s see if I can do the feelings justice:

  1. Your memory is indeed a blessing. What a beautiful expression. We miss your bodily presence terribly, and we know you are always with us.

2. When we remember those who have passed, may we honor their legacy of love and impact on us by paying it all forward as best we can. 🙂

3. Long before any of us pass, may we share our fondest remembrances of each other. Why wait until the end? Recall and rejoice today!

4. May we honor and respect past versions of ourselves that had to go. They served us until they didn’t and it’s OK to mourn them and keep living.

5. When I come across something that reminds me of you, I try always to mark it somehow. So the cosmos knows about you and how you still matter.

6. “You know, the death rate from life is 100%.” –My very wise patient. We can choose to create the memories worth recalling by living as intentionally as possible now. In love.

7. If/when I lose my memory, I hope the cosmos will let me keep the love above all else. When I see your face, that’s all I need to remember about us.

8. Let us welcome the memories that bring tears. They signal deep connection and remind us of what we share. They make us human. Welcome welcome welcome.

9. First I thought about grief Then about loss. But remembrance is now my preferred frame. It feels more connecting to the love somehow.

10. When that stab of sudden and intense remembrance strikes, may we slow a step, take a breath, and allow it. It’s transient and a blessing through the ether.

11. They say grief can only live where love has already been. That makes it easier to think about, and no easier to feel through… Still, yeah. Love.

12. Sometimes I remember you as if you have already passed. It’s morbid, I know. But it helps me appreciate you now. It awakens me to us.

Huh. I’m pretty happy with these. Onward, my friends.
And we love you, Mary.

Love Notes for Love

Posted on by
2

Bee Butt Friend. I have decided this will be a distinction of love that I confer on anyone who manifests the ethos. And I will continue to strive to do so myself! 😀

The past week has seen me full on binge the Crowns series by Nicola Tyche. US Review of Books apparently calls it, “The political intrigue of Outlander or Game of Thrones with the magic and thrills of A Court of Thorns and Roses.” I’ve texted Friend Phara (who recommended it to me) multiple times a day (sometimes an hour) since starting the first book 8 days ago. Book Two began three days ago and I’m 88% through. I will hold off on Book Three until after the busy upcoming weekend, if I can manage it. Then we will FaceTime to gush about it together, and I will use that and all of my texts as notes for a future blog post/review of this epic, sweeping story.

And because I cannot help myself, and I will positively burst if I don’t output something about it now, tonight’s daily dozen will all be inspired by these extraordinary books. Oh and I highly recommend the audiobooks–Shane does not narrate them, but Katherine Kennard, Connor Brannigan, and Zach Hoffman do a phenomenal job!

My favorite books of 2024 and 2025 so far were Beastly Beauty and Never the Roses, respectively. This series further clarifies what I love most about romantasy, and also likely historical romance. More on that later.

Meanwhile: LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!

  1. OMGosh love makes (us) do CRAZY things! And life would not be nearly as colorful, joyous, meaningful, or deep if it were any other way.

2. However you need to feel loved today, may the people around you deliver in spades. May you feel seen, heard, understood, accepted and FULLY LOVED exactly how you are.

3. When we find ourselves challenged and/or even threatened by others’ words, actions, or ideas, may we 1) find safety, 2) breathe deeply and slowly, 3) withhold judgement, and 4) stand in love first.

4. Is there an experience with more capacity, more depth, more simplicity and complexity than love? I cannot think of any.

5. Rupture. Repair. Repeat. Love mends tears and cracks so the seams are where the art of life (is) strongest. Love on, my friends.

6. Loving is risky, no? “No risk, no reward,” as they say… And loving is its own reward, in a way, also no? Being loved in return is, of course, ideal, but just giving is fulfilling in itself.

7. Phenomenally, our hearts and minds can always accommodate MORE LOVE. It is an infinite resource and its well has no bottom. SMH Cosmic.

8. When you feel overcome with love, what music fills you? I bet it’s crescendo without being loud, sonorous and light yet deep and resonant. ANTHEM-y.

9. It is both vulnerable and brave, I think, to see, acknowledge, and express when someone else in pain needs us, and to go to them in tenderness. These are the moments of true connection. So precious.

10. You know that feeling of total, saturated overwhelm by love? OMG I wish you this ALL THE time! What other energy could possibly be more nourishing?

11. May you(r) love lead you always, ahead of fear, shame, convention, expectations, contempt, anger, indifference, and apathy. Cultivate this as DEFAULT.

12. Love is amazing — It fills and lifts whatever container holds it — However it is required, it shows up and meets the need. It is reliable, versatile, elastic, and renewable. Wow.

Hmmm. Some of these are good, but there is still so much more to capture about Love, isn’t there? I mean DUH. Like twelve little off the cuff notes could cover it. HA! How fun.