100 days of love

by Kayce Stevens Hughlett

On September 5, 2020, I began a 100-day project, exploring love via my Instagram account. It was something (the #100dayproject) that I'd be considering for a long time, but never quite landed on the forum or topic I wanted to pursue. In the past several months with covid-19, a heightened political and social injustice atmosphere, and most recently wild fires and hurricanes, it became apparent to me that we need Love in our world now more than ever. I have no idea how the project will evolve or manifest itself, but the accompanying photo offers a few of the books by my bedside … each with their own version(s) of love.  

I’m committed to love and light. Not the squishy, rom-com, everything ties up in a perfect bow kinda love (although I am fond of that, too). But rather the deep in my bones, I will fight on your behalf and stand by you, I will tell the Truth even when it’s hard kind of Love. The Love that says I will say No when No is necessary. The Love that says YES and acts when Spirit whispers the call to fight or slow down, get quiet, and sit in deep peace kind of Love. 

“Without justice, there can be no love.” bell hooks  

I believe that as long as money takes precedence over care and compassion, as long as people are being othered, placed in cages, and punished or judged by the color of their skin or lack of education or social status or patriarchal-driven systems, there can be no love. As long as we judge our own bodies or compare them to others, there is no Love. Love nurtures growth for all people, spiritual and emotional. Love is open to learning and willing to be wrong. Love first seeks to be kind. Love is patient. (And, yes, I hear the connection to 1 Corinthians. Do you?)  

1 Corinthians 13:4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 

8 Love never fails.

I hope you'll consider pondering and exhibiting love alongisde me!! You can follow along on Instagram by clicking here and/or begin your own #100dayproject because we could all use more love, am I right? xoxo

~~~

5 Texts to kickstart your love and healing quest :) 

all about love: new visions by bell hooks

See No Stranger: a memoir and manifesto of revolutionary love by Valarie Kaur

Warrior of the Light by Paulo Coelho 

Love Poems for God: Twelve Sacred Voices from the East and West by Daniel Landinsky 

My Grandmother's Hands by Resmaa Menakem 

BONUS: anything by Brené Brown