One Love

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“Good day. Five for One Love. The Marley movie,” I said and pointed at the movie poster for Bob Marley: One Love. 

From behind the glass, the theatre attendant nodded, typed keys on the keyboard, took my credit card, and released five paper tickets from the reader." Inside on your left in theatre five,” he replied.

“Thank you.”

I turned around and saw that everyone had already entered Caribbean Cinemas on Friars Hill Road. My children went to the arcade, and my wife stood by the concession stand. After buying the tickets, we only had ten minutes until it started.

I joined my wife in line and called for the children to purchase snacks. While in line, I thought briefly about how things have changed. When we first arrived on the island, our finances were tight.

After two years in Mexico without consistent income, every penny we earned went towards relocation expenses. We didn’t spend money on movies. Everything we had covered rent, food, and supplies.

Today, six years later, we have a little more Eastern Caribbean Dollars in our pockets, but we still have bills and debts. After spending more on junk food than admission, our family of five walked to Theatre 5. My wife and I sat near the screen. The children headed for the back to wait for their friends.

Midway through the opening trailers, a couple of my daughter’s friends and their mom joined us in the cinema.  

In the film's opening minutes, it all came back to me. When I started growing dreads about twenty years ago, people called me Bob or commented about how I resembled one of his children. While in Ethiopia, little children screamed, “Bob Marley,” when I walked down the streets to and from my apartment.

I couldn’t help but smile at the images of Bob on the big screen. His music shaped my social consciousness and exposed me to the Rastafarian movement. Although I was unable to reconcile smoking weed as sacred communion, the Rastafarian teachings of African unity and respecting the Earth resonated with me.

Although I don't identify as a Rasta, the Rastafarians embrace me, and I greet them with gestures of respect.

The movie focused on Bob's relationship with Rita Marley, some of his musical hits, and efforts to encourage peace in Jamaica during a violent season. It did not reveal much about how his environment shaped perspectives on love, reggae, Rastafarianism, and politics. Although I enjoyed it, I found the film slanted toward a unilateral vision of the man who made “One Love” a song and popular greeting.

I often say "One Love" when interacting with strangers and friends in Antigua. As a greeting, it conveys peace and solidarity.

Like Bob, my message is about love. Love guides my words when I teach about capoeira, reading, or anything aligned with diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, belonging, health, wellness, and justice. I want people to experience the best that life has to offer.

Learning offers a path to divine appointments in the present and future. Through spiritual and secular books, teachers from various backgrounds, exposure to challenging topics, and opportunities for application, the possibilities for humans are limitless.

Use this weekend to decide how you can progress toward the many forms of success. Perhaps you can go to the movies and witness the courage and love Bob Marley embodied in his short 36 years of life. You can also attend a religious event, go for a hike, or sit still to receive clarity about the steps aligned with your life's mission.

Stay long enough, and you might receive an answer.

Several of my students are observing Ramadan and fasting until April 9. You don’t have to practice Islam to receive the spiritual benefits of fasting from food and water during certain hours.

Do what resonates with you to obtain the essence of "One Love" in your life.

This blog has three purposes.

1. To share with you what I’ve learned from personal and professional experiences – hopefully, they inform, inspire and motivate you.
   

2. To receive feedback on my writing from readers like you (comment below)
   

3. To build an online community of subscribers  (subscribe here)
   

Choose one that makes sense for you, and let's continue to hold ourselves accountable as we journey through life.  

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