They say that love is the only satisfactory answer to the problems of human existence. Yet so many of us are unable to develop our capacities for a love that is compounded by courage, self awareness, depth, presence and safety. I am discovering in my own experience that learning to love demands practice, attention, discomfort and discipline in order to truly know it. It requires us to study, absorb knowledge, practice application and there must be nothing in the world more important than it. When I look at you, Adaku, I see the embodiment of love and human connection in every way. I’ve witnessed how big and kind your love is, you are a healer and nurturer to so many in our community and the world is a better place because you are in it. You bring grounding and breath to unraveling circumstance. You organize with rigor, collaboration and strategic vision and you bring out the very best in everyone you touch. You usher excitement and adventure into every fractal part of life, there is truly never a dull moment with you. You love Black people the ways we deserve and exactly as our ancestors intended for us. And your connection to spirit is magnetic and contagious. You make love possible because you communicate it from the center of your own existence, from the place where there is aliveness and pure. source. energy, baby. (lol if you know this reference then you know). The ways you extend grace and compassion to others reminds me that I still have so much to learn about my own acceptance and forgiveness. And while I consider myself lucky to experience a romantic love with you, I feel even more blessed to love you as a friend and I thank both of our ancestors for encouraging this connection. I hope today and every day we can all return the kind of care and appreciation that you’ve given to us. For your love is both a resting place and a moving, growing, working together phenomenon. Thank you for being who you are and for making life feel more possible and exciting to be in. Happy Birthday, lovebug-Another year looks so damn good on you. May you be filled with deep belly laughs, tears of joy, and knowing of your incredible power. 📸 by my beloved brother @kingtexas