Introducing 27 Songs For A Summer of Self Love

I love to celebrate the changing of each season, but welcoming Summer just got by me this year. I've officially claimed this summer as my Summer of Self Love. Showing myself love is something that I'm actually pretty good at. During my 14 years as a massage therapist it was imperative that I take care of myself as I worked 10 hours, 5 days a week providing massage and spa services. It was a LOT of different energy to take on. Plus it was important to me to practice what I preached. If I was selling a skin care product, an at home spa product, you best believe I had tried it first. Over the years, it all led to self care and self love routines that I still practice today.

I personally think there is a difference between self care and self love, although components of each may find themselves needing the other. The self care I practice are forms of self love for me. To practice my self care routines involves self love in the form of telling people no, tuning the world out, putting myself first without feeling guilty and loving myself to repeat the no's over and over until some learn that they can only come to me in a certain way, and that is often with the same love and respect I show myself. I read a quote somewhere that we show people how to treat us via how we treat ourselves. I was once upon a time a YES to everything woman. And it came at the expense of my pouring from an empty cup, over promising, unnecessary stress like how to tell someone no, exhaustion, at one time even high cholesterol because I ate my stress. I CAN NOT tell you how much easier it is for me to say NO now. Oh my God. It feels so good to take up for myself in that way. To say no and move on.

This year I found myself showing me unapologetic self love by not giving of myself to answer questions around the very sad and I just don't have the words, but the brutal murders of Ahmed Aubrey, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd and too many more that we later found out about. I had people that I had not seen since high school, like 30 years ago, and with whom I barely hung out with during those old high school days, tagging me, wanting to hear from "their Black friends" regarding THEIR questions. I could not reply. I could not give them my time to answer nor debate. I had bigger fish to fry like taking care of my own grieving and personal trauma that came up around the deaths of Aubrey, Taylor and Floyd. I had my family to concern myself with in regards to how they were doing. There were also virtual friends wanting to have conversations for odd reasons and they were not to understand, but whatever the reason, I had to show myself enough self love to not get involved with their overwhelming wants and without apology to tend to my own NEEDS. I needed to grieve. I needed to learn why this time around my trauma came up like a huge belly ache and regurgitation after a bad meal. Most people just wanted to share their egotistical opinions and I was not interested in showing up for anything other than a genuine intent to understand, help and love.

So yes, although I have become pretty good, great even, at self love, I'm extending even more love to myself this summer. I'm taking my yoga practice beyond my standard stretch and focus, to yoga and meditation, focusing on rituals for the modern activist.

I've marched at a few marches in protest, and I'll never forget my knees going weak during marching in protest for Kenneth Walker who was murdered by police in Columbus, Georgia. The same thing happened while awaiting the hopeful stay of execution for Troy Davis. Once it was announced that the stay would not happen and Troy would be put to death, I just remember grabbing on to my then husband, knees weakening and just sobbing. It brings tears to my eyes know thinking about how his family must have felt, Troy and everyone who believed him to be an innocent man.

Music has been and continues to be such a wonderful healer. I recall some of the music I listened to during the times I mentioned above and now. Music has provided a soundtrack to much of my life. It's just so powerful. There are definitely those songs that I turn to again and again and I also enjoy learning about new songs too. I came across some really great new to me songs in June that I'm excited to share. Here are the 27 songs that are on my playlist for summer 2020. I'm sure I'll add more. 😊

1. Clap For Yourself - Tey Chaplin
2. Love's In Need Of Love Today - Stevie Wonder
3. Just Fine - Mary J. Blige
4. Bloom - bLAck pARty
5. Why iii Love The Moon - Phony People
6. Hold On - The Internet
7. Peace and Love - Tall Black Guy
8. Vibin Out With (((O))) - Fkj
9. He Loves Me - Jill Scott (From Jill's debut album Who Is Jill Scott? released July 2000.)
10. You and I - Betty Davis (This legendary Beauty will be 75 July 26. I wish I could meet her.)
11. Till It Happens To You - Corinne Bailey Rae
12. Bridge Over Troubled Water - Aretha Franklin
13. I'm So Happy I Cried - Fantastic Negro ft. Tank and Bangas Tarriano Ball
14. Reach Out And Touch Somebody's Hand - Diana Ross
15. They Won't Go When I Go - George Michael
16. Let's Go Crazy - Prince
17. Let Love Rule - Lenny Kravitz
18. Fragile - Sting
19. Chan Chan - Buena Vista Social Club
20. Soldier of Love - Sade
21. Historia De Un Amor - Cesaria Evora
22. Confessions Nocturne - Arthur H
23. J 'ai 26 ans - Brigitte Fontaine
24. Keep The Faith - Michael Jackson
25. Inner City Blues - Marvin Gaye
26. Open My Heart - Yolanda Adams
27. Black Lives Matter - Bebe Winans