The Poetry:

Love Learnings originally began as my personal journal. Each poem was written and re-written on post-it notes and intended for personal therapy. In reflecting and recovering from a tumultuous break up, capturing my own emotions in words provided me much needed comfort. The book is compiled in the order that it was written, giving the reader a chance to move through each emotion as a cycle.  As the weeks turned to months and I began sharing a few of my pieces, I (along with some very STRONG nudges from people in my life) began to feel that I should compile my writings and share this experience.

In understanding my own healing process, I slowly became aware that an integral part of my rebuilding was wrapped up in my connection to the people in my life during that time. Rather than feeling completely alone, as one often feels at the ending of a relationship, I instead found myself surrounded by a rich and powerful community.

The Hands:

The hands in the book belong to the people who played different roles in my life during the aftermath of my relationship. From family to friends, from my mailman to my boss, from as close as next door to as far as across the world, from as young as 2 to as old as 76, in different languages and in different ways my community of 52 hands assured me I was loved, and in doing so, allowed me the greatest opportunity of all, learning to love myself.