Love at 32

(TW/S @ 24:37) What is love? How many different types of love are there? How does life change when it’s rooted in love? In this episode, Jelena explores the nuances and dimensions of love through her own lived experiences. She takes us on a journey from when she was a child to now - an adult at 32 - and how love - and a time of lovelessness - has shaped her. As always, she gets candid about the otherness and isolation that comes with being the oldest daughter of immigrants. Why she wasn’t ready to love or be loved in her 20s. How she lost herself when she lost her father. She shares the story of how she met her life partner, Richard, and how being in a relationship committed to growth requires daily commitment. Sparkling her stories with the pioneering beliefs of Bell Hooks from her novel “All About Love: New Visions,” Jelena eventually realizes how the core of her trauma has always been questioning her loveability, where love always meant seeking approval and validation. At 32, she’s accepted the fact that being who she will make some people uncomfortable because - accordingly to Bell Hooks, “the most precious gift true love offers is the experience of knowing we always belong.”<br/><br/><br/>Chapters 8:35 - What is Love?13:06 - Love for Humanity14:32 - My First Love15:41 - Immigrant Love19:07 - Love in my 20’s: The Confetti Project 24:25 - The Breakdown 34:06 - Meeting My Life Partner 43:29 - Self Love50:26 - End of Day Recalibration Prayer <br/>Self-Reflection Questions How did love feel in your family/childhood?How did/does love feel in your 20’s?What do you love about yourself? <br/>Resource LinksAll About Love: New Visions by Bell Hooks Brown Girl Therapy (a mental health community for children of immigrants)Self-Care for Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents: Honor Your Emotions, Nurture Your Self & Live with Confidence Biance Sparacino Quotes <br/>Please subscribe, rate, and follow The Confetti Project on Instagram, Pinterest & Twitter.