I've Seen It

Inspiration from Olivia Dean & Love Actually

Happy first Saturday of October, dear readers!

This week, I spent an arguably alarming amount of time listening to Olivia Dean’s new album The Art of Loving. I’ve been a fan for years and selfishly, a part of me wanted to gatekeep her forever — but the album has been top of mind, so I had to share a few reflections.

At its core, The Art of Loving is exactly what it sounds like: an album about love in all its forms — the good, the bad, and the ugly. The lyrics explain love in ways that are somehow both poetic and plainspoken.

The final track, “I’ve Seen It”, is a love letter to the many ways Olivia sees love show up in her life: in friendships, family, partners, and the world around her. Listening to it reminded me of Happies: those blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moments of love that make up a life well lived.

As someone who prides herself on being independent (sometimes to a fault), I’ve learned that love doesn’t always look like a grand gesture or a sweeping rom-com ending (not quite yet for me, anyway). Rather, it shows up in the every day connections, if you’re willing to notice it.

Which brings me to one of my all-time favorite movie monologues — the Love Actually Heathrow Airport scene:

“Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion’s starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don’t see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere… Often, it’s not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it’s always there — fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know, none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge — they were all messages of love. If you look for it, I’ve got a sneaky feeling you’ll find that love actually is all around.”

The scene gives me chills every time and feels especially relevant in today’s world.

I think what it captures so beautifully is that love is simple. Sure, it can also be messy, nuanced, and heartbreaking. But at its core, it’s the purest form of human connection. It can be seen in the airport pickup, the unnewsworthy moments, the tiny ways we say “I love you” without saying anything at all.

And more often that not, it’s closer than we think (and easier to find).

In this fast-paced world where the days often blur together, it’s easy to forget to send the text, make the call, or follow through on the “let’s catch up soon” plans. I’ve been in that mode lately.

But in the rare moments when I actually stop and catch my breath, I notice: love is everywhere, in both the obvious and not-so-obvious.

I see it in my parents — their devotion to each other, their love for me, and the life they’ve built.

I see it in my grandparents — steadfast, loyal partners for over 60 years, quietly taking care of each other.

I see it in my brother — fiercely protective, always finding the person in the room who needs a friend most.

I see it in my friends — the new ones who I feel like I’ve known for a lifetime already, the old ones who’ve loved me at my worst.

I see it in strangers — in the man who opens the grocery store door for everyone on my corner, in the elderly couple holding hands after church, in the babies and puppies and strangers who make me smile on the street.

I see it most vividly in those who are heartbroken — because to grieve a loss means you loved deeply, and you’ll love again.

For a long time, I equated love with a grand romantic storyline — a rom-com scene where someone magically shows up at your doorstep with flowers and a speech. Turns out, love is rarely that.

Your twenties (I think) are about learning how to find love in yourself and the world around you. Being alone doesn’t mean you’re missing love. It means you get to discover it in places you never thought to look. To complete yourself before looking for someone else to.

So, that’s my ode and completely unsponsored plea to give Olivia Dean’s new album a listen (and maybe cue up Love Actually for the 100th time while you’re at it). I hope this weekend you notice the small moments — the ones that remind us that love actually is all around us.

“The more you look, the more you find

It’s all around you, all the time

Catches your eye, you blink and then it’s gone

Brings out the worst, brings out the best

I know it’s somewhere in my chest

I guess it’s been inside me all along.”

— I’ve Seen It, Olivia Dean

TC