Happy Sunday. It’s October, the month for lovers, and I find that comforting. I’m always in the mood for love, but October invites us to settle into the fact that we only have three more months until the end of the year. So honestly, we have to give the best that we’ve got. I love magazines. In fact, Sunday Forever was inspired by my love for magazines. It’s so relaxing to turn a page—the idea of settling down and reading, opening a new book. Right now, I’m reading Kennedy Ryan’s Can’t Get Enough, and I’m so happy I finally got my magazine with Michael B. Jordan on the cover of Vogue. I was wondering when it would arrive. I may be a unicorn because I still love receiving magazines in the mail. But it was a nice surprise on a rainy day when the only plan I had was to read. I hope October brings you the same feeling that surprise brought me: sweet nothings, soft moments, and miraculous occurrences in our inboxes.
I’m a hopeful romantic. My parents are both Libras, one day apart. So now and then, you can catch me open to a book or movie outside my comfort zone. But I prefer love stories, surprises, and celebrations. Each year, my mom always told us that we had a month to celebrate our birthdays. Today is her birthday, and I’m already looking forward to celebrating her all month long. My mom was my first best friend. Between Libras, the fall, and new seasons, October has a special place in my heart. This month reminds me that I was born because two people fell in love. I go through pictures and look at them, excited that I come from two beautiful, adventurous, loving, funny, faithful, loyal, and kind parents. It makes me happy that my children will one day look at my pictures and say, “I have a cool mom.”
So every day I want to be a reminder of love and growth. In the morning, I wake up and say ten things I’m grateful for. That’s love. I say nice things about people. That’s love. I love being in the middle of people’s blessings. So when I am told that I have to keep a secret about a close friend’s news, or my fridge is filling up with invitations and reminders of celebrations, that’s love. Forgiveness is love. Kennedy Ryan’s moment is inspiring me to keep doing what I’m doing because my time is coming. That’s love. Knowing I will forever be that girl and celebrating myself. That’s love. It is all love. Love is loving where you are. Love is minding your business. Love is keeping your word. Love is slowing down, even when you are feeling rushed. And love is everywhere.
We are all surrounded by love every day. And my word for October is appreciation. I want to be dressed in it all the time. I am so grateful for the fall, a time to become even more obsessed with ourselves, a time to strengthen our skills, meet new people, and sometimes even put the phone down so we can spend more time alone. A time to keep pouring into our community. A time for spontaneous memories. A time to celebrate every day, because even the simple moments are declarations of love. I don’t always want to do what I have to do, but it is a blessing to be able to. It’s all love, and I’m so grateful that, no matter the circumstances, I always see myself the way God sees me: chosen, timeless, more precious than rubies, and always producing good fruit.
It’s such a beautiful time to see young Black love stories like those of Kamie Crawford, Jordyn Woods, Coco Jones, and the people we know personally. They remind me to tune out the negative narrative. I’ll tell my future children about a time when we had a crush and had to call the house phone and speak to his parents first. It was intimidating, but I hope we keep the tradition of letters, thinking-of-you cards, and love notes. I hope we use the next three months to take our time with each other, make room for passion and devotion, and show people that we adore and cherish them. And as I cherish others, I’m always appreciating myself, too. I am the perfume that lingers. It makes me feel irresistible. Here’s to a season of falling in love, trusting what God is doing beneath the surface, and knowing that everything comes in waves, including expansion and rebirth. I am happy to enjoy this season’s beauty and romance, finding new ways to enjoy the life we already have. I hope you have the best October ever. What things can you romanticize and glamorize in your everyday life?
Seven Affirmations for the Week — Until We Meet Again
I am deeply loved, cherished, and adored.
I attract supportive colleagues and mentors.
I am eternally blessed, glowing, and grateful.
My job fulfills me and brings me joy and wealth.
Every step I take is blessed and protected.
I get unlimited opportunities to travel.
I attract romantic nights, luxurious days, and aligned opportunities.
What I’m Reading
Can’t Get Enough by Kennedy Ryan
What I’m Listening To
Morning Affirmations ~Wealth — Morning Affirmations
Oprah Winfrey on Knowing Your Worth — Baby, This Is Keke Palmer
How My Parents Have Made 34 Years of Marriage Work — According to Blake