THE OBSERVATION BOOTH
OP / ED ANDREA DIALECT
PHOTO FROM THE MIND OF ANDREA DIALECT – AI GENERATED
When chitchatting with my daughter this morning, after mentioning my commitment to finishing up this article for this week’s submission, we stumbled into my topic choice. Heart Palpitations had tweaked her interest, as she’d been yanked by the nose by my posed question.
The question was this. What love song do you find yourself humming or singing out of the blue?
It’s in your blood. It’s running through your veins. It just shows up and grabs you by the nose, and before you know it, you’re part of the singalong. That mic snatch moment, when the singer gets shoved out of the way because you gonna sang.
And that’s exactly what she did.
Poor little Brandy didn’t stand a chance with that “Sittin’ Up in My Room” song, because my little sugar plum had taken center stage. And all those folks at Costco at the time, poor souls, got themselves a mini concert, like it or not.
I did join in, I’ll admit, as we snatched the mic back and forth. It may have been her song, but this morning, I think it was mine. We laughed as I mentioned behaving and feeling just like my sista Pam. I saw her clear as day in my head, her round head, that’s what we sometimes call her, even now when we’re at play. Doing all that hard singing she used to do when we were youngins.
She was always filled with emotion. Her expressions said everything as she sang, overshadowing Babyface in his own song about stuff she ain’t never knew, cause she was too young to be loving anybody besides us. And that’s where she’d be going back then when she needed or felt alone So when Babyface asked where will she go, she already knew. Right there at our dang on house. I love you, Pam.
But finally, after getting my daughter to hush and allow Brandy re-ownership of her own song, I love you, Keyay, I slid right in and slapped her with mine. My two favorite ride-or-die love songs that have been with me since seemingly forever, hands down, are “Bust Your Windows” by Jazmine Sullivan and “Love Is a Battlefield” by Pat Benatar.
Now I ain’t got no beef with love, we good. Just something about those beats and those words that have me gearing up, I gotta bat in my hand, making contact with somebody’s window. Or I’m stomping hard in my combat boots, making a PSA about what love did or did not do.
But, and I mean but, everything Anita Baker is my go-to. Always have been and always will be. From riding the wave of one of them intros, or singing about some kind of imaginary love to my imaginary man. Especially when I’m honing these vocal cords as tuning my voice. I apologize, cause I’m singing now, cause I love that song. That’s the power of love. That’s the power of music.
Love is in the air, so they say, this week, but I want it here to stay. So let’s take that one day that has been set aside for loving, Give it center stage, by snatching your favorite song and share it like blowing kisses. Making melodies that pierce the ether and sandblasts hearts, leaving seedlings behind that bloom everywhere. The sweet melodies of songs have the capability to make love bubble to the surface, sometimes even penetrating stony hearts.
Love is the antidote for much of our ills, what we as humans need the most. So let us no longer keep it at bay. Let’s make way for love.
Question, what is a love song, romanticized or not? Love has many faces that steal your focus, overwhelm, and make us sang. I love you.
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DID YOU KNOW…. Being in love often makes the heart feel like it is racing, pounding, or fluttering, driven by adrenaline, norepinephrine, and dopamine, which create sensations of intense excitement, anxiety, and euphoria. Physically, it can feel like a “tingling” heat in the chest, butterflies in the stomach, and a “warmth” of joy, yet sometimes a “painful” yearning when separated.
Physical Sensations:
- Racing/Pounding Heart: The nervous system activates, causing a faster heart rate.
- “Butterflies” & Tingling: Blood is diverted, causing tingling feelings, often accompanied by sweaty palms, trembling, or a lightheaded sensation.
- Warmth & Energy: A feeling of intense, glowing warmth in the chest, along with increased energy.
The “Science” of the Feeling:
- Dopamine & Norepinephrine: These chemicals create feelings of euphoria, motivation, and sometimes, anxiety or “insane” energy.
- Oxytocin: Known as the “love hormone,” it promotes feelings of security and deep attachment.
- Brain Activity: While it feels like the heart, these feelings are actually driven by the brain’s reward system, which triggers physical reactions to create a sense of pleasure.
Emotional & Psychological Impact:
- Anxiety/Fear: The intensity of love can make it feel overwhelming or scary.
- Longing/Pain: When separated, the heart can feel a deep, aching “painful” void, similar to distress.
- Calm & Security: In established love, the heart can feel at peace, which may even lower blood pressure.
- This video discusses the difference between the initial, often chaotic feeling of falling in love and the more stable, choice-based, and calm sensation of mature love:
What is the 7 7 7 rule for couples?
The 7-7-7 rule for couples is a guideline for maintaining a strong relationship by scheduling regular, dedicated time together: a date night every 7 days, a weekend getaway every 7 weeks, and a longer romantic vacation every 7 months. It’s a structured way to prioritize connection, prevent drift, and foster intimacy by consistently investing time in the relationship, though many find the exact schedule challenging and suggest adapting the principle to fit their own lives.
