Valentine's Day, Love, Music and the Sea (and my Top 40 Romantic Songs)

This morning, I woke knowing that today is Valentine's Day and although I don't have a 'Valentine' in the traditional sense and I will be spending this day alone (by choice), I still feel love all around me. My heart is warm and beaming crimson as I feel this sense of gratitude for the people that I have in my life. Some past lovers, some old dear friends with the roots so strong I feel that we share the same blood, some new friends where the love is just budding and some whose blood I do share. And these are all different forms of love.

So what is Valentine's love? Historically, the month of February celebrates love in the Romantic sense of the word (the legend of St. Vincent). I have been in love. Deep, passionate, beautiful love. This type of love will embrace you with so much strength that at times it's difficult to imagine the comforting and invigorating grip ever loosening. Alas, sometimes it does. Sometimes, it comes back.... perhaps, in a different form.. or perhaps, from another - like waves in the sea, constant yet never the same.

I will never be afraid to sit seaside with my toes on the edge of the water - vulnerable to the vast amount of waves in the sea.

Romance - Oil on Canvas, Craig Kosak

Today, I choose to celebrate all forms of love. And I thank you all for being part of my life and sharing love with me.

Below you will find a list - in no particular order - of some love songs that I love. Yes, I do have a 'Romantic' playlist on my iPad (yes, I am a true Romantic with the mushy gushy songs, candle light, dancing in the kitchen and long nights of staring into each others eyes). And I do listen to it often, whether I am with a lover, a friend or alone. Perhaps they are not all Romantic songs, I'm not sure... but I do know, that they make me feel love.

Here's to Love my Sweethearts...

Bodhi Life's Top 40 Romantic (Love) Songs 

1. When a Man Loves a Woman by Michael Bolton
2. Make You Feel My Love by Adele
3. How Can You Mend a Broken Heart by Al Green
4. Kissing by Bliss
5. No Woman No Cry by Bob Marley
6. Everything I do, I Do It for You by Bryan Adams
7. Quelqu'un m'a dit by Carla Bruni
8. Because You Loved Me by Celine Dion
9. The Power of Love by Celine Dion
10. Wicked Games by Chris Isaak (and the sexiest music video of all time) 
11. Brown Skin by India Arie
12. I Can't Help Falling in Love by Ingrid Michaelson 
13. Just You and Me by Jayson Belt
14. Have a Little Faith in Me by John Hiatt 
15. Morning Song by Jewel 
16. She's All I Ever Had by Ricky Martin
17. I Am Made of You by Ricky Martin
18. Twelve by Seven Nations 
19. Underneath Your Clothes by Shakira
20. Good Morning Beautiful by Steve Holy
21. That's How Strong My Love Is by Taj Mahal 
22. If You Could Only See by Tonic
23. I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston
24. I Have Nothing by Whitney Houston 
25. The Sweetest Taboo by Sade
26. No Ordinary Love by Sade
27. Flow by Sade
28. I'd Do Anything for Love by Meat Loaf
29. Every Breath You Take by The Police
30. With or Without You by U2
31. Give Me Love by Ed Sheeran
32. Holdin' On by Citizen Cope
33. Sideways by Citizen Cope
34. Someone Like You by Van Morrison
35. Have I Told You Lately That I Love You by Van Morrison
36. That's How I Know You Love Me by Justin Moore
37. Stay With Me by Amos Lee
38. Shape of My Heart by Sting
39. She's Everything by Brad Paisley 
40. Unchained Melody by Righteous Brothers

“We love the things we love for what they are.” 
― Robert Frost

Happy Valentine's Day <3

-Ashley