I Just Called to Say "I Love You"
By Kurtis Pemberton
Illustration by Amy Sherald
Over my adult years, I have discovered that I can understand others' experiences and feelings outside of my own.
As an empath, I tend to have this innate ability to Read The Room.
It’s this gift to be able to pick up on the tiniest of expressions, body language, or tone of voice that others miss—which leads me to have a sense of what a person is feeling immediately.
As I look around my community both physically and socially, I can feel you. I can sense it all to a point where I experienced an acute form of Sensory Overload for the very first time.
I think that's why I submerged myself into nightlife during my promoter days.
There was nothing like being in a venue where everyone's goal for a couple of hours is to have the most fun they can have before going back to their regularly scheduled programming.
My goal was to hand out as many drinks as I can, say "What's up?" as many times as I could, give as many hugs as possible, and recite all the lyrics to as many songs as possible—or, as was more often the case, mumble the words.
There's a better chance of getting Martin Lawrence to sing “Bad Boys” than me giving you a full 16.
Anyway, I did whatever it takes for people to enjoy their moment out.
We are in an abnormal time in society where there aren't any breaks to commercial from what’s happening.
Whether they are on the frontlines or at home, many people around us are stressed out and going through it.
I challenge you to reach out to someone. Text or call that person and say "I love you."
There is no individual too strong or too weak, too wealthy or impoverished to receive love.
Love is an energy that permeates the flesh and imbues the soul.
These are the times when Sensory Overload becomes less exclusive to an empath or those with related conditions.
As most of us are still in quarantine, it’s not as easy to see into the eyes of your family and friends.
It can be quite difficult to read a room you’re not presently in.
So, reach out, because hearing and knowing you're loved is the very catalyst that will allows us to recharge, reboot, and stay connected with society.
On that note, I have decided to leave you with two things the lyrics to Stevie Wonder’s “I Just Called To Say I Love You” and letting you know I LOVE YOU.
Because, I mean it from the bottom of my heart, and so does Stevie.
No New Year's Day to celebrate
No chocolate covered candy hearts to give away
No first of spring
No song to sing
In fact here's just another ordinary day
No April rain
No flowers bloom
No wedding Saturday within the month of June
But what it is, is something true
Made up of these three words that I must say to you
I just called to say I love you
I just called to say how much I care
I just called to say I love you
And I mean it from the bottom of my heart
No summer's high
No warm July
No harvest moon to light one tender August night
No autumn breeze
No falling leaves
Not even time for birds to fly to southern skies
No Libra sun
No Halloween
No giving thanks to all the Christmas joy you bring
But what it is, though old so new
To fill your heart like no three words could ever do
I just called to say I love you
I just called to say how much I care, I do
I just called to say I love you
And I mean it from the bottom of my heart
I just called to say I love you
I just called to say how much I care, I do
I just called to say I love you
And I mean it from the bottom of my heart, of my heart,
Of my heart
I just called to say I love you
I just called to say how much I care, I do
I just called to say I love you
And I mean it from the bottom of my heart, of my heart,
Baby of my heart
Songwriter: Stevie Wonder.︎