Toni Morrison…

For our 34th week’s challenge was to use a quote by the author Toni Morrison. She passed away recently and left behind a legacy of powerful words. With such a plethora of options I chose to use one of her more simpler quotes. I had ideas to do something much more elaborate to illuminate these powerful words. As I sat with pens and paper, my light table and more tools I realized that sometimes simple and plain says it best. I used Sumi ink on Strathmore calligraphy paper.

I never thought of the concept of ‘thin love’ and yet we can all define for ourselves what ‘thin love’ means. Reading those words conjures emotion and disappointment for us all. Somewhere in our lives we may have experienced ‘thin love’ or have seen the ramifications of others who have been treated that way. And the author is right, thin love ain’t love at all.

It is when we give of ourselves freely and without fear that love thrives. It is when we are vulnerable and face the lovable and unlovable things about ourselves and the ones in our life that love transcends all boundaries. It is when we know without a shadow of a doubt that the one we love loves us in return, no matter what that love is free to invade our soul and elevate out life to something special.

Love means being willing to be loved and to let someone see the dark and ugly places in our soul. Love means forgiving, forgetting, believing and putting the other person before ourselves. And love means growing and changing and transforming into the person you always wanted to be. ‘Thin Love’ ain’t love at all, no kidding. Find the fat, juicy, messy, all encompassing kind of love and never let it go.