What brings you the most satisfaction when it comes to love? What is the way to your heart? How does your heart communicate best with another?
According to Baptist Pastor Gary Chapman there are five ways to express or experience love. He refers to them as Love Languages:
1. Acts Of Service
Doing helpful things to help your partner. Most often, without being asked.
2. Receiving Gifts
Showing your partner that you’re thinking about them by giving them gifts.
3. Quality Time
Meaningful time spent with your partner.
4. Words Of Affirmation
Saying supportive and encouraging things to your partner.
5. Physical Touch
Being in physical contact with your partner (this does not necessarily include or require sexual activity).
I’m a fan of (or should I say, “guilty of”) each of these. Much of my application comes from how they respond to each of these:
- I do love giving gifts (even more when I ain’t broke)
- I love surprising a woman by performing acts of service for them
- I do thrive on words of encouragement (but only from that special person)
- I’m a sucker for a soft & loving touch, and
- I love spending quality time with that special someone.
But what has always satisfied me most was when a young lady and I could connect on a musical level. That has always been my “button”. If a woman loves music, I mean loves and truly understands music, then we can talk for hours.
I can remember many all-night discussions about musical groups and songs. But the ones that really, truly lasted were the ones I’ve had with other musicians or true appreciators, who enjoyed sitting and dissecting music with me.
It was one thing for someone to say, “check out this new song by so-and-so”, but If a girl told me to listen to a song and listen for the french horn and violin melody at a certain minute mark, she was a lock.
Now, you’re talking my language.
I especially enjoy telling someone to listen to a song multiple times. I mean, hey, we all know what the (singing) artist sounds like, ad-libbing throughout the final third of the song. But who follows a walking baseline as the Ray Charles’ Christmas classic “Winter Wonderland” fades, or the climactic cymbal crashes of Earth, Wind & Fire’s “Be Ever Wonderful” at 4:29, or the supporting countermelodic chorus of the violins during Oleta Adams’ “Everything Must Change” from 5:37 – 5:52?
If you’re not sure what I mean, listen to “The Way It Goes” by The Crusaders, featuring Nancy Wilson. If you remember that 1986 tune, you probably remember all of the words and can sing along, just as Nancy sang it. But if I told you to ignore the singing and just listen to the violins after Wilton Felder’s tenor sax solo, you’d enjoy an entirely new experience.
And it’s nothing for me to tell you to listen to the rhythm guitar during the intro of a song, then to pay close attention to the keyboard and drums during the chorus, then focus on the flute and harp during the song’s bridge. Sure, it requires the multiple plays that I mentioned a bit ago, but that’s the only way to appreciate all that is contained within a song.
And PLEASE, don’t get me started on the instrumental version of Donna Summer’s disco classic, “Last Dance.”
Any woman who could have these kinds of conversations with me, dude, they had me. And I won’t deny that I enjoy that kind of talk with the fellas as well. It’s just at a different level.
Now if you’ve been paying attention, I know you’ve probably deduced that this falls under the category of “Quality Time.” And you’re not wrong. But know that when I say it, I mean time dedicated solely to music, and nothing but.
Today, I find it fascinating to meet so many people on social media who share the same love, but are looking for just that: Music Talk. It’s not often that you can converse with someone, knowing that both parties only have that subject in mind. And yes, I’ve made friends with people like this and have had endless exchanges talking about music, music, and more music.
That’s because music, to me, IS the international language.
And it’s my passion.
It’s MY Love Language.
It’s the way to my heart and my soul.
What is your Love Language? What touches your heart? Put your answer in the comments section below. And be sure to sign up at the bottom to receive email notifications of future blog posts from Kenny’s Camera, Cooking & Crazy Confessions at ZootsBlogSpot!
Kenny's Camera, Cooking & Crazy Confessions! 