Love Becomes Us

Happy official first day of summer; today I'm eagerly working on material for this Twitter chat for Saturday morning. Why not join us?

I've been thinking a lot about LOVE lately, so I've been exploring these four words that fit ever-so-beautifully into an acrostic for the chat and perhaps even for future growth sessions.

What does it mean that LOVE becomes us?

I probably have more questions than answers, but I find it satisfying to reflect on inquiries like that. Does loving someone mean that anything goes? Does it mean I just leave you alone? Or is there something different, unique and special about someone who inspires and leads with love? 

Relentlessly. 

Unapologetically.

With their whole heart.

The loyalty piece for me speaks to trustworthiness.

Who is worth of your trust? 

And whose trust are you worthy of?

How does someone know you're loyal?

And how do they show loyalty to you?

Can you fully love someone you can't trust?

And how do they regain your trust once it's broken?

The openness  piece to me is about attitude and acceptance.

We all want to belong, right? In fact, it's a need.

But how open are we to accepting all people?

What stereotypes and biases need to be broken down

before we can fully be open to change and growth?

How important is openness to love?

How do others know that you're open to them,

mind, body and soul?

Vulnerability has to do with being human.

Shame researcher Brené Brown tells us it's about 

"uncertainty, risk and emotional exposure."

Because without emotions, can there be love?

And isn't loving synonymous with taking a risk?

What part do you see vulnerability playing?

What does it mean that to be vulnerable is a strength?

And then why does it feel like a weakness sometimes?

And then there's empathy, that glorious virtue that

invites to us hold space and feel with another.

Can with fully love without the empathy which

mobilizes compassion and turns into being there

for others, feeling with them and taking steps

to help alleviate their suffering and/or pain?

How do you see empathy and love as connected?

Can you have one without the other?

The word love makes me think about John's mom, Ruby.

Here she is on our book's 2nd birthday, reading aloud

to her sorority sisters. I love her beautiful hands

and her gentle, generous and grateful spirit.

For Mothers Day, we gave her a copy of

The One And Only Ruby by Katherine Applegate.

Have you read it yet? Click {here} for the trailer. Every single page is captivating, 

but here's my favorite page, because it begs the question:

What if we all did that? How much better would we be?

Finally, our Kindness Tee is available again,

in some fun new colors for a limited time {here}.

Yes, dear reader, kindness does look amazing on you

and LOVE certainly becomes us. Sigh. 💛

How will you Be Love today?