Review: Let Love Have The Last Word by Common

I’ve been a fan of Common, but mainly more so for his acting than his music which I’ve only dabbled in a little bit. I learned so much about him through this memoir and have a great appreciation for his struggles with love throughout life. Something that I can relate to.

Growing up with a single mom, the absence of a father, the struggle to get close to another in a romantic relationship (for me post divorce) were all things in this book I could relate. It was nice to see love being told from a male perspective. I appreciated his openness and his willingness to share some very person things with us.

Here are a few take aways that I really enjoyed:

— Focus in the presence of love, rather than the absence of it (a lesson for me AND my children)

— Love and intent are interlocked.

— Let love have the last word in any situation, no matter the person (note to self)

— Saying let love have the last word is not just a declaration—it is a statement of purpose, and it is a daily promise

—Love is worth the effort. The effort itself is love

—Turning to God requires one to turn over one day out to God, to hand them over, to trust in each and every decision made if, in looking back, the decision was made with clear intention and with love in mind. There is no need to fear failure when trusting God, when living life and love, with love, when living by love

—Love is about making compromises for other people in the name of finding some other common ground

—Love requires daily practice, effort and commitment

—Everything in love requires work

—There is no progress without effort

—Love is the thing that considers; it listens; it’s spends time and is patient enough to allow the other person or people to feel that they have been heard and acknowledged. That’s means going into places that you normally wouldn’t go

—I should be able to ask for whatever I need; conversely, she should be able to ask for whatever she needs. Recognizing, speaking to, and honoring our truths is the correct path to fostering love and intimacy; that such communication is difficult only underscores the impact of this positive and open connection

This book was a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating for me! A lesson in love that I needed and didn’t know I needed. A reminder to let love lead in all that I do.