Forever Love

“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”- 1 Peter 4:8

This Valentine’s is extra special for me and my spouse. Why? Because the year 2020 almost obliterated our relationship. Before you slide in my DMs and start texting me SOS and asking me am I “Okay,” I need people to understand that even if you love someone, your relationship is not immune from experiencing different types of struggles. 

Beautiful Photo by @iamdonaldwilson

 My grandmother once told me to “have compassion for everyone because someone is either entering a trial or exiting one.” This saying definitely extends to relationships and marriages. Relationships can be complicated, meshing your mess with another person’s mess can be interesting and if you are together long enough you will encounter obstacles, PERIOD. 

I remember February 2020 so well. We were celebrating Valentine’s Day in Los Angeles, eating at unique restaurants enjoying the city, and embracing the bountiful vibes under the LA sunshine. Shortly after returning to the East Coast, essentially a month later on March 13, 2020, to be exact, the world seemed to shut down due to COVID. They canceled school; they canceled professional sports events, they canceled every concert, large gatherings, church service, and it seemed that the only outside human interaction we experienced for weeks was at the gas station or grocery store. 

During this time of isolation, we ran out of toilet tissue, and we were locked in our homes, separated from all things familiar and fun. These moments of being quarantined with my spouse had their highlights, yielding a beautiful COVID baby (Justice was conceived a week after the lockdown began), it also exposed areas of our relationship that needed real work. We had to become each other's therapist, best friend, personal chef, hairstylist; and we had to examine some ugly truths of our relationship and face them head-on. We had to dig deep to overcome lingering obstacles within our union that, before lockdown, we could ignore and sweep under the rug. If you quarantined with your spouse/significant other/kids/ family members, you spent more time with them than you could ever imagine, and this constant closeness changed us all, hopefully for the better. 

Beautiful Photo by @iamdonaldwilson

In July of 2020, after being diagnosed with COVID and experiencing the fear and anxiety of this invisible warrior, I promised myself to cherish every moment with the people I love. Surviving COVID while pregnant, with relatively lighter symptoms compared to others, lit a fire in me to truly enjoy every moment of my life and the amazing people I am blessed to have in it. 

So today, on this beautiful day celebrating love, I applaud those who are fighting the battle of love so their relationships not only survive but thrive—to those who are working through personal baggage to be the best version of themselves for their significant other, I salute you. We cannot change what we choose to ignore. Self-improvement leads to an abundant blessing that impacts ourselves, our families, and future generations.

Beautiful Photo by @iamdonaldwilson

What is LOVE?

My definition of love has changed over the last year. With the complexities of this world and society forever being altered by this invisible warrior (COVID), I learned the meaning of true love? 

Being in a committed relationship for almost 14 years, 6 of those years married, has at times, caused me to experience sadness, stress, frustration, anger, and loneliness.  Oh, but this union, this connection with whom I believe is my soulmate, has also taught me forgiveness, joy, glory, triumph, peace, and a love so deep it suffocates and simultaneously gives me life. Every day, my imperfect relationship, my marriage, pours true love into my heart, and for that, I am eternally grateful. To my forever Valentine, Coty Sensabaugh, I love you to the depths of my soul. 

Happy Love Day!

XO,

DOM 💋

PS. Thank you @MerchantandTrade for creating this beautiful, socially distant safe Igloo for us to wine, dine and laugh in with some of our close friends. This was an epic night and I am forever grateful for this moment perfectly captured by @IAMDONALDWILSON 📸