Have you wondered what makes some relationships enjoyable and lasting? I do not pretend to have a magic formula. I share how my partner and I poured enchantment into our recipe, making the ingredients of our sortilege an easier card to read. Maybe you discover a thing or two to feed your own romance or the one to come your way.

Relationships are about connections. Connections in romantic relationships, how I see them, are about a constant flow of beautiful details that first conceive love and then give birth to it. I was reminded of it by remarkable teachers and peers during defining moments when I was open to hear with brighter clarity. To connect I must be vulnerable, honest enough to share my true self. Romantic connections are about touch, the physical, the mind, and the spirit. Connecting is hugging, the hugs we get, those we give to others, and especially to ourselves. As Mama Ru’ has taught me, ‘If you can’t love yourself, how the hell are you going to love somebody else.’

I have found that redefining my concept of happiness with wiser lessons leads to joy and contentment. I update my purpose when I need to. I construct and reconstruct my existence as new phases arise. This anthology of poems tells the specific approach that made Malik and I us blossom!