About this Playlist
Why I Think Love is Important:
A part of me is a huge romantic. Beneath the armour of a mediaeval dragon is a Kirby holding a comfort blanket. I know this comes from me growing up with an understanding that ‘Love never fails to transform.’
In those moments when we’ve dropped our defences and have been hurt in unprecedented ways. We have the choice to run away from love and stagnate any experiences in that department or we can continue to love ourselves and heal. Through that healing (and if we’re lucky and sensible) we eventually come across someone who shares our outlook to companionship and romance.
My Top 2 Songs on Romantic Love:
Genesis – Ravyn Lenae
To me, I understand this song to represent the initial apprehension we feel when opening up to someone. We might feel bamboozled and jarred at the idea they’ve got us feeling a way, and our response to that feeling is summed up in Ravyn’s line: “I’d rather not”. But, another part of us knows exactly how optimistic we are to a future with them. It then becomes uncanny just how well we get on. Was this something foreshadowed in our dreams or the stars? It might seem too good to be true, “but I think I want you”.
While We’re Young – Jhené Aiko
Can we all agree just how majestic and serene the intro is? It’s like a lucid dream we’re having of an open field on a sunny spring afternoon. Beyond the flower field there’s a river flowing, and it mimics the butterflies in our stomachs! Obviously because we’re standing in the warm embrace of that special someone. Really, ‘we’re so excited that we finally decided on them’. I think Jhene Aiko perfectly captured that dreamy romance we’ve seen in Ravyn Lenae’s ‘Genesis’. It brings out our inner child to “do something dumb”.
If the perfect moment is right there, will you be the one in your head double checking and scanning for everything that could go wrong?
How Can We Bring Love into Our Lives and to Ourselves?
There’s this book I read that references this clever metaphor of how we can love all parts of ourselves. Picture a state of the art modern kitchen filled with all the ingredients of your favourite meals. There’s variety and quality within each ingredient and any meals prepared here are so satiating that there’s no need to over eat or go without!
Now, this kitchen is also part of the home to a group of young children – your young children. They never go without food because there’s an abundance for all to eat. There’s so much variety that each meal is met with excitement to try new things. These kids love how they never go without food and they hold no shame in inviting guests and sharing food.
Guests who visit can enjoy meals to the same quality and standard the kids do. It’s always a pleasure having guests around and sharing; it’s not because you need to or are obliged to, but it’s for the simple joy in sharing a delicious meal together. These children are an image of prospering health.
The metaphor continues but I will stop here.
The children in this metaphor are all the different parts of yourself. The food represents all the needs and desires of those different aspects of you. Any invited guests represent those parts of the people who may enter your life and be blessed to experience the sovereignty of your being.
While bringing it back, let’s be good to ourselves. Let’s take good care of those parts that look to us for sustenance. As we progress through life, it gets even better knowing we’ve met someone whose kitchen mirrors the one we have. We can then feel safe in sharing and allowing ourselves to be fully known and witnessed.
Track Listing
- Genesis (EP Version) – Ravyn Lenae
- LOVE. FEAT. ZACARI. – Kendrick Lamar
- XO – Beyoncé
- Favorite – Nicki Minaj
- Fashion Killa – A$AP Rocky
- DD Form 214 – JPEGMAFIA
- I’m Baby (ft. Jvck James) – Ambré
- Push It – TWENTY88
- Encore – Cheryl Lynn
- All Night Long – Mary Jane Girls
- Funny How Time Flies (When You’re Having Fun) – Janet Jackson
- Overseas – Thundercat
- Nobody’s Business – Rihanna
- While We’re Young – Jhené Aiko
- Power Couple – Labrinth
- U-N-I – J-E-T-S
- I Want You – Children of Zeus
- Feels (feat. Chris Brown) – Tory Lanez
- Comfortable – H.E.R.
- I Won (feat. Kanye West) – Future
- Studio – ScHoolboy Q
- Gangster Love – Octavian
Playlist image by Mateus Campos Felipe on Unsplash
