Carly Simon’s “You Belong to Me”

Since I was a toddler, I’ve loved this song.

I told my mom once that this song reminded me of being really little and thrilled. This prompted her to remember that whenever it came on, I would start bopping around in my playpen. I wasn’t even able to stand independently on my own feet yet, so I would have to hold onto the playpen railing in order to move up and down by bouncing my knees. She said it was really cute the way my diaper would wiggle with my bouncing dance.

While I was still crawling, I resonated with the passion of this woman’s plea to her lover to acknowledge the sanctity, the exclusivity, and the primacy of their bond. Over the course of many loverships, I’ve grown to realize the beautiful futility of pleading to anyone to value a bond, that for whatever reason, he doesn’t value.

Now, I am in the powerful process of reclaiming and transforming this passion for my Self.

It’s not my lover’s loyalty and undying devotion that I am seeking to own, keep, or earn anymore. Lovers, even the best and most worthy of them, come and go. Now when I sing and bop my bottom around to this wonderful song, I am laying claim to my own heart, spirit, and allegiance. Everything I need resides inside this beautiful heart, body, and mind of mine.