Her Shine

MY FAVORITE SONG:

Bittersweet Symphony - The Verve

HOW I CULTIVATE SISTERHOOD: out there when I interact with a sist that I already feel connected to.”

MY LEGACY:

MY INSPO:

WHAT DOES LOVE HAVE TO DO WITH IT?

By: Gina Farrar

Every February Love is in the air with pink and red

Every February Love is in the air with pink and red hearts everywhere you look: Valentine’s cards, hearts everywhere you look: Valentine’s cards, bouquets and boxes of candy take over the stores. bouquets and boxes of candy take over the stores. There are endless songs written about love, There are endless songs written about love, poems and books abound on the subject. But poems and books abound on the subject. But what does love have to do with it? what does love have to do with it?

We gush about loving food, shoes, movies, music, We gush about loving food, shoes, movies, music, that perfect pair of jeans. We love our favorite cup that perfect pair of jeans. We love our favorite cup of coffee and that delectable scone to go with it. of coffee and that delectable scone to go with it. We love any manner of thing or place that strikes We love any manner of thing or place that strikes our fancy or tickles our core memories. But what our fancy or tickles our core memories. But what does love have to do with it? does love have to do with it?

While I enjoy many of these things, it seems that While I enjoy many of these things, it seems that love may be one of the most over-used and love may be one of the most over-used and misunderstood words in the English language. misunderstood words in the English language.

Love is so much more than an expression of favor toward places and things. Love in Love is so much more than an expression of favor toward places and things. Love in its purest form is patient, kind, doesn’t boast or envy, it isn’t rude or self- seeking. its purest form is patient, kind, doesn’t boast or envy, it isn’t rude or self- seeking.

Love seeks to do what is best for the recipient not necessarily what feels the best Love seeks to do what is best for the recipient not necessarily what feels the best

Self-love is a popular topic of conversation and if you take the time, you will find

Self-love is a popular topic of conversation and if you take the time, you will find differing ideas about what that means Which begs the question: what does love differing ideas about what that means. Which begs the question: what does love have to do with it? That is the question I hope to answer through the lens of the have to do with it? That is the question I hope to answer through the lens of the highest form of love. highest form of love.

When planting a garden we break the soil, till it, remove the rocks and debris The When planting a garden we break the soil, till it, remove the rocks and debris. The soil gets watered and fertilized to make it ready to be the best environment for the soil gets watered and fertilized to make it ready to be the best environment for the plants. Plants are placed in the optimal spot, at the right distance from each other so plants. Plants are placed in the optimal spot, at the right distance from each other so they can have the best chance of success. Sometimes the root balls have to pulled they can have the best chance of success. Sometimes the root balls have to pulled apart to give the plant the greatest chance to thrive As they grow, we weed the soil, apart to give the plant the greatest chance to thrive As they grow, we weed the soil, remove dead leaves and flowers, and keep them watered well. In essence, we care remove dead leaves and flowers, and keep them watered well In essence, we care for the plants by doing what is best for them. for the plants by doing what is best for them.

Likewise, the practice of self-love is like the process of gardening It is rooted in being

Likewise, the practice of self-love is like the process of gardening. It is rooted in being honest, gentle, and kind, breaking apart the tangled roots of criticism Avoiding excessive honest, gentle, and kind, breaking apart the tangled roots of criticism Avoiding excessive indulgence (over-watering)but instead applying grace, sometimes doing hard things indulgence (over-watering)but instead applying grace, sometimes doing hard things (removing dead leaves) to nurture the best in ourselves. We stop those habits (weeds) (removing dead leaves) to nurture the best in ourselves. We stop those habits (weeds) that are not healthy for us and replace them with good, healthy habits (fertilizer and that are not healthy for us and replace them with good, healthy habits (fertilizer and water). We seek to understand ourselves better and to accept where we are while water) We seek to understand ourselves better and to accept where we are while continuing to prune ourselves as necessary. continuing to prune ourselves as necessary.

This Valentine’s Day when you see all the red and pink hearts everywhere, remember love has to do with flourishing. Self-love then becomes an opportunity to create an has to do with flourishing Self-love then becomes an opportunity to create an environment where we can best blossom and grow. environment where we can best blossom and grow.

This Valentine’s Day when you see all the red and pink hearts everywhere, remember love