flavors of love.

In my journal I write:

“What a gift to be fully surrounded by so many flavors of love… held by expressions of love in so many different ways.”

I am grateful for the ways that I have been loved this year.

The abundance of peaches that grew on the tree in my backyard this summer, loving me through sweetness.

The butterflies and ladybugs that land of my skin when I’m out in the woods, loving me through soft presence.

My sister calling me during the small pockets of her day, either with her son and daughter on FaceTime, or just her voice checking in on me, loving me through distance.

My friend who sends me a voice note almost daily, loving me through consistency.

My car that takes me here and there, everywhere, loving me through miles.

Adam hugging me deeply when he hears me sigh in my office, or just because, loving me through human touch.

Mom sending me a daily text message when she wakes up and when she goes to sleep, without fail, since I went away to college at eighteen, loving me through an essence that says, “No matter what.”

Dad putting out a cup of coffee for me each morning when I’m home, or lugging my suitcase out of the trunk and then back into the trunk, up the stairs and then back down the stairs on my many comings and going, or leaving me a note if he leaves before I wake up, loving me through acts that say, “I’m always thinking of you.”

My home that becomes more of an imprint of my own fingerprint with each passing year, loving me through sturdy walls.

Opening my mailbox with utter delight at receiving an actual handwritten card in the mail from my lifelong best friend, the main way we’ve stayed in touch since college, loving me through her own energy on the page.

Receiving a Snapchat of my friend’s face every single day, usually with no words, just expressions that say it all for us, loving me through silence.

Every “like” or comment that I get on Instagram or Substack from people that I haven’t spoken to in years, or haven’t spoken to quite enough recently, loving me through quiet support.

My body healing itself and rejuvenating from even the most difficult physical and emotional circumstances, loving me through lifetimes.

My brain waking up each morning and reminding me that it’s a gift to be alive and to be me, loving me through chosen thoughts.

The colleague who texts me instead of messaging me on Teams to tell me something unrelated to work, loving me through shared experience.

The clear, delightful water that flows down my throat, loving me through hydration.

The flavorful, nutrient-dense food that my teeth chew, loving me through nourishment.

My niece and nephew who rotate sleeping with the postcard that I sent them from the St. Louis aquarium, loving me through pure childlike delight.

The friend that calls me drunk with her mother to say that they miss me on Thanksgiving, loving me as though no time has passed.

The monthly message I receive from the CEO that I support through my admin job, reminding me that work I’m doing is serving a bigger purpose and is helping her in all the right ways, loving me through reflection.

My dishwasher, washer, dryer, lights, microwave, faucets, refrigerator, coffee maker, outlets that all work when I expect them to, loving me through seemingly effortless dependability.

The bestie who sends me memes to remind me that she’s thinking of me, loving me through laughs.

My eyes that see the colors of the world, my ears that hear it, my hands that feel it, my mouth that tastes it, my nose that smells it, loving me through texture.

This keyboard that clacks underneath my fingertips, loving me through creativity.

The melody of crickets and cicadas increasing as the summer sun sets, loving me through sound.

how often do we stop and think about the ways we are showing (and being shown) love?

There are so many delightful flavors of love around us. Sadly, I think we miss most of them—fleeting moments lost to the rush of our days.

Many of these moments are just part of my daily routines.

I’m trying to get into the practice of leaning into the intentionality behind them—to really appreciate them when they come, instead of taking them for granted.

My wish for you is that you’ll find a new appreciation for the ways that you are loved, too.

Because you are loved.

Here I am, loving you through words.

xx

Court.