One of my dearest friends challenged me to do the Love Your [Person] Challenge on The Book of Face and because I freaking love her, I’m going to play*. But instead of doing a 7 day posting thinger-majigger…I’m going to post one picture here and say 7 gross, vomit-rainbow inducing things about my friends, love in general, and my Onesie.
1) To MegaLee – you guys are a freaking admirable couple and the love you have and devotion you show to one another constantly inspires me; and that BIG Love you have for one another spills over into the love you share with your friends. I have been lucky to have you both as an example of love over a bunch of years – and now specifically as an example of married love. You’re wonderful and I love you guys. So. Very. Much.
2) I want you to have a life of a million lovers. Yes. You. All of you. Anyone reading this. This write-up is love-ly despite the horribly click-baity title. But this is what I want for myself and what I want for all of my friends – lives steeped in love. And whenever we – you and I – encounter, “I would like you to leave our time together feeling loved and free and full of your most vibrant and luscious hue of you-ness.” Because *that* is real love.
3) And when it comes to romantic love, I want you all to experience what it is like to be with someone who “makes your cells dance” – you deserve nothing less: “You ruin your life by choosing the wrong person. What is it with our need to fast-track relationships? Why are we so enamored with the idea of first becoming somebody’s rather than somebodies? Trust me when I say that a love bred out of convenience, a love that blossoms from the need to sleep beside someone, a love that caters to our need for attention rather than passion, is a love that will not inspire you at 6am when you roll over and embrace it. Strive to discover foundational love, the kind of relationship that motivates you to be a better man or woman, the kind of intimacy that is rare rather than right there. “But I don’t want to be alone,” we often exclaim. Be alone. Eat alone, take yourself on dates, sleep alone. In the midst of this you will learn about yourself. You will grow, you will figure out what inspires you, you will curate your own dreams, your own beliefs, your own stunning clarity, and when you do meet the person who makes your cells dance, you will be sure of it, because you are sure of yourself. Wait for it. Please, I urge you to wait for it, to fight for it, to make an effort for it if you have already found it, because it is the most beautiful thing your heart will experience.” — Bianca Sparacino
4) “Love is love is love is love is love is love is love is love, cannot be killed or swept aside,” — Lin-Manuel Miranda
5) Self love is important, too. Because…
6) And to my Onesie: I don’t mind that we’re often the people caught schmoopsing. I don’t mind that the world narrows when you’re around. In fact, I quite like it. You make my every cell dance. And I am so lucky to have you in my life as my partner and my teammate and my Love. Thank you for being with me. Thank you for showing me what Real Love looks like. I love you. The most much.
Code Red Schmoops Alert
7) You are Love and you are Loved. We should all keep this truth with us through our daily journeys; life is easier to navigate when we let this fact rise to the surface of our interactions – with ourselves and others. And if you are ever in doubt, give me a holler and I’ll be happy to remind you.
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* I have heard people talk about this challenge being one that initially began to remind people of the sanctity of marriage and that marriage should be between a man and a woman under a Christian faith. After some googling returned nothing notable, I decided to participate. But clearly, I am all for love being expressed between all people of all faiths and all sexual and gender identities. Go forth and love, kittens. In all the ways you can.
FAUXDULTHOOD 
Love you!
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I love you, too, Tolm!!! ❤
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