Take the recent Netflix Series Bridgerton for example, it is the very picture of what we imagine true love to look like. A true period love story, but one with a modern twist. Watching the series, even the most hardened heart will be moved by the on-screen romance of the main characters.

Personally, I find not just the love story but everything about the production simply perfection. To see the diversity in cast and how people of color are represented in the story is just a delightful and rare sight to behold, particularly in such a genre. Also, the series as many critics have pointed out is so timely! It is certainly a love story that fits in with the times we are in. A time where representation matters more than ever!

Bridgerton was a breath of fresh air. It is most definitely a binge-worthy series for hopeful or hopeless romantics. There are so many things I adore about the series, but I will divulge a few things I find noteworthy.

The language is so rich, I find myself looking up so many words—promenade monotonous, soiree, etc. Watching period movies or series is assuredly a fun way of expanding one’s vocabulary.

One of the younger sisters of Daphne, the female lead is my favorite character. Eloise is an independent free-spirited non-conformist who wants to carve a different path for herself, rather than settle for the life predestined for a “proper” woman, which is to get married and make babies. She wants to instead, “nurture her mind”. She is what one might call a feminist.

One reoccurring question throughout the series was “who is Lady Whistledown?” Or the scribbler as she is disparagingly referred to in the series. The writer(s) were exceptionally good at hiding her identity. No one would have expected it to be her of all people (I do not want to give spoilers).

I love how Daphne’s mother steps up to the eldest brother Anthony Bridgerton and takes responsibility for helping her daughter to find love and happiness. Although it was considered the eldest brother’s duty to help her find a husband. I did not like his character very much. But I did feel sorry for him for not being able to marry the woman he loves because of societal expectations.

The chemistry between the lead characters was palpable. I loved them together and the intimate scenes were steamy. The main actor who played the Duke of Hastings is most certainly a very attractive young man. I knew I had seen him on screen before but could not place my finger on where, until I saw his Instagram page. He is the actor in the remake of Roots, another remarkable series, I highly recommend. His Instagram followers by the way have dramatically increased since Bridgerton was released and unsurprisingly so. It was my first time seeing the female lead. Although she has featured in other TV series as well.

The cinematography is stunning and the acting superb. The cast as previously mentioned is very diverse, there is a certain beauty in diversity. I was elated but unsurprised to discover the series was produced by Shonda Rhimes. The excellence of the series speaks of her brilliancy as a TV producer.

And last but not the least, I absolutely love the Queen’s elaborate hairstyles.

These are some of my favorite things about the series. Like most audiences, I am looking forward to a Season 2.

The post My Few Favorite Things About the Most Acclaimed Netflix Series—Bridgerton appeared first on Rachael Sade's Blog.

So far, we’ve had some experiences that have further solidified our relationship. There are some occurrences that take place in life that have magnetic forces designed to pull you closer to the other person. Those life events, particularly the unpleasant ones, make you stronger as an individual and as a couple. What doesn’t break you makes you stronger.

I used to think relationships were about the length of time in which two people have known each other, as I have often indicated in previous posts. But I have come to realize that it is not about the length, but rather the quality of time we spend together. The length of time certainly counts for something and is worth celebrating, but the quality of time even more. The quality of love we receive from each other weighs more than the amount of time we spend in the relationship. There are some couples who have only been together a couple of years but are far more successful at loving each other than couples who have been together for decades.

I hope my partner and I will spend the rest of our lives together giving it our all, every waking moment. We already have a great start. The chemical reaction are high, and the hormones are without doubt raging. We tingle at the sound of each other’s voice and the thought of our lips merged together, does crazy things to our bodies. All indicators that two people are in fact in love. However, if all of our love were summed up by emotions, then it is of all things most shallow. For love is deeper than sensations and excitements. Love exists even when all feelings desert us. So when couples don’t feel that rapid heart beat, that butterflies in their stomach or that sweet titillation, they still ought to believe in what brought them together. There are far more weightier things in life than feelings. There is a place for emotions, but it doesn’t always apply to love.

Love is like faith and hope. Love, faith and hope are in fact the only virtues guaranteed to last forever. They all function similarly, in that they lack physical or sensory evidence. Faith, the holy book says is the assurance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. Meaning, it exists whether or not it’s been revealed to our senses. The same principle applies to hope, hope that is seen is no hope at all.

But when it comes to love, we keep expecting love to function differently. We keep wanting love to prove itself through our emotions. So we wait to feel love before we act on it. And when we don’t feel it, we begin to doubt its existence. But love transcends feelings. The realm of emotions is far too limiting for love— the single most powerful force in the universe.

So in the long days ahead, when we don’t quite feel love, or when the emotions we feel towards each other seem the very antithesis of love, I hope, we will still believe, hold on and perhaps whisper those sweet words to each other, I love you.

The post The Weighty Three Letter Words: I Love You appeared first on Rachael Sade's Blog.

But, I have come to realize that a lot of what we refer to as love is not love. Our perception of love is tainted and marred by our human frailties and flaws. However, love in and of it self is pure and unblemished. How can imperfect humans attain perfect love? Through sacrifice. Ever heard the saying, “there is no love without sacrifice”, and wondered why? Well sacrifice is an act, one that requires a person to perform it. Love is likewise an act.

One of the biggest mistakes we make in relationships is in thinking love is a feeling. We have reduced the greatest subject of all time to mere chemicals and hormones, how fallacious. Is it any surprise that our marriages are falling apart? We are basing eternal decisions on transient emotions; how do we expect that to work? So, when we no longer feel a certain way about the individual, we say we no longer love them, or we fell out of love.

Well love is not something we fall into, so how can we fall out of it? It’s not subject to our whims. It takes a lot of strength and courage to love because love is an act. One we have to repeatedly perform, and therein lies the sacrifice. Which means regardless of how we feel, we must love. We often ask people why they love someone, but that is the wrong question. It should be, how do you love?

We love through our actions. We love through exhibiting patience, kindness, respect, loyalty, forgiveness, long-suffering, trust, and perseverance. When we stop acting, or doing love, we are making a conscious decision to turn away from love. So, it was never about feelings, it was always about our actions.

So, is love a good reason to get married? Yes! But I say, find someone who is worth loving.

The post Love is Not a Feeling. Love is an Act. appeared first on Rachael Sade's Blog.

That was my first love, naïve, young and wide-eyed. it bloomed like summer blooms and vanished with the last gasp of summer. I thought it will last forever. Surely when two people say they love each other that meant they will be together forever, right? The answer is no as I have come to learn after that sultry yet innocent summer.

He said he loved me. With a slight reservation I said I loved him too. He was my winter love. After summer, I know those words did not guarantee forever, but with the cheerfulness of a once beaten, twice shy youth, I hoped this love will outlast the winter chills. It did not.

Two seasons was more than enough. They represent two unrecoverable years of my youthful life. I was done with love. Done with butterflies in my stomach, a fluttering heart and pleasant goosebumps. Of what use was love?

Love? Was that all it amounted to? It appears in the morning and is gone by noon. It doesn’t even stay till night, not to mention midnight. Why love if love will not last forever?

Now love calls me a cynic and I call him a hypocrite. He says open your heart to me and I say no way. I have been through this before, not once, not twice and sadly not thrice. I am different he says. I am the real deal.

I have heard that before I say. I am done with you. You cannot live without me he says. Watch me, I say with much gusto, ignoring the voice in my heart that said he was right.

I was done listening to that lulling voice as well. It had lured me once too many into giving in to love. It is as though it is bewitched by love to make me fall in love. It still seductive voice will say, “you need love, you know you want love, love is right in front of you, give yourself to love.”

“Shut up!” I’ll say and it will obey but only for a spell and then at the sight of love, any love, it would begin to gently thunder again, “you want love, come on girl you know you need love.”

“I don’t need love!”
“You’re lying.”
“I have been hurt and deceived by love before!”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Love is not real!”
“Yes, is it.”
“How do you know?”
“I know because deep down in that untouched, innocent pure, and impenetrable part of you, you know that true love exists.”

I laugh. Is there really a pure and innocent part of me? I thought my innocence was long gone.

“No,” the voice whispers. “There is still a part of you that no matter how many broken hearts or failed promises will ever remain unbroken.”

Is that really true? Could I really trust this voice in my heart and give love another chance?

“Yes, you can,” it says. “Because I am you. You can trust yourself to love again.”
“But what if love leaves me again?”
“No baby, true love will never leave. Because true love is not outside of you, it is inside of you.”

The post The Story of My Love and I appeared first on Rachael Sade's Blog.