104 Comments
User's avatar
Temi's avatar

Bell Hooks’ book “All About Love,” touches on this topic that you wrote about perfectly, she talks about the un-masculinity of Love and where it stems from. This was a great article to read thank you for the in-site

Expand full comment
Aarohee's avatar

love the book; one of my favorites

Expand full comment
creatrr's avatar

the most perfect expression of how I want to experience love and also brought so much awareness to how I may have been perpetuating toxic cycles for a sense of connection.. and i was about to do it again w someone I like, so thank you.

Expand full comment
Davina Daras's avatar

I’ve returned to a focus where love is built through friendship, and getting to know someone as a human being. Learning their vulnerabilities through deep conversation, shared empathy, building emotional and intellectual bonds and letting connection flourish uninhibited. Feeling desire, yearning and going “there’s more to this” and allowing that burning passion turn into something soft, grounded and meaningful. Real love liberates, it isn’t based off temporary highs or instant gratification. We understand this once we look within 🌹

Expand full comment
Osa's avatar

I really really love the idea of yearning. We need to be more intentional about our love and how we chose to share it.

Expand full comment
Churchill's avatar

The feelings I went through reading this! 😩

Expand full comment
Sigurd's avatar

SAAMMEE😭

Expand full comment
jordan risa's avatar

God I love this so much. This is exactly how I feel about love — the slow burn is vastly underrated in a time of urgency, immediacy and instant gratification.

Expand full comment
arei's avatar

slow burn love is steady and the fire it makes last longer 🔥

Expand full comment
Ifeoma Udemezue's avatar

Thank you so much for writing this. I am in absolute awe of the eloquence and gentleness your writing provides. I needed to hear this, I’ve intevested into my self preservation over the past few months. I find myself thinking of ways I can show up as a better lover in my next relationship and a sentimennt that has remained consistant in my mind revolves around taking things slow. So, thank you.

Expand full comment
Shay ☆'s avatar

"eloquence and gentleness" omg you're so sweet! thank you so much for taking the time to read the piece!

Expand full comment
Jo's avatar
Feb 19Edited

This truly warmed my heart, Shay. Thank you. Unlearning lust or this way of thinking has been one of the hardest, yet most rewarding, things I’ve ever done. There’s something profound about seeing your person beyond desire and into their essence ….flaws and all while still feeling that deep, unwavering tenderness that somehow gives you an unshakeable strength at the same time? x

Expand full comment
creatrr's avatar

your words are so pretty

Expand full comment
fifi's avatar

when you commented about masc women, it kinda tied up everything else for me; as men are always chasing sex, a person who presents themselves as masculine, even at the slightest, the connection made (masculinity <--> sex) is almost instant

beautiful work!

Expand full comment
guinevere kane's avatar

Oh this is gorgeous

Expand full comment
Cypress's avatar

Truly one of my favorite reads recently! Ah! So many feels.

Expand full comment
Harvest144's avatar

These words came to me as I completed this read:

"I Am a Love worth waiting for."

Expand full comment
Brooke's avatar

Much appreciated as a masc lesbian who wants so badly to take my time with women. There always feels like there’s an invisible clock whose time is running out when you meet someone you’re interested in. If you haven’t taken it to the physically intimate realm by its expiration, it feels like you’ve condemned the relationship to the platonic or have missed your chance with them altogether.

Expand full comment
perla's avatar

can i just say wow. i’m

currently going through a break up

due him being lustful. but everything you worded has brought out a new meaning to lustfulness. it doesn’t have to be just seeing others for their appearance it’s also the need

for that desire. it’s thought provoking and makes me want to rethink the kind of intimacy i want in a relationship.

Expand full comment
Dee W🌻's avatar

this is beautiful , thank you for sharing this. I feel as though this is something i’m learning about in my own life, and in my own relationship, i try so hard to get things right and make sure everything is right that i can lose touch with myself and others when it’s “not right”. But with the grace of God i’ll grow and my heart will change and i’ll have peace w myself and others.

Expand full comment