{"id":22487,"date":"2025-08-01T12:47:25","date_gmt":"2025-08-01T12:47:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/howifeel.be\/?p=22487"},"modified":"2025-08-01T13:07:24","modified_gmt":"2025-08-01T13:07:24","slug":"our-song","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/howifeel.be\/index.php\/2025\/08\/01\/our-song\/","title":{"rendered":"Our Song"},"content":{"rendered":"

Have you ever liked a song because it reminded you of something \u2014 or rather, someone?<\/strong>
\nI have a few songs that bring back memories of a great movie or a fun party. But one in particular stood out for a long time. When I was younger, I was part of something called Chiro<\/em>, a Belgian youth movement similar to scouts, but with its own unique traditions. One of those traditions was the daily “wake-up song” that blasted across the campsite each morning.<\/p>\n

During my final year as a Chiro member \u2014 before I became a leader \u2014 our wake-up song was \u201cBongo Bong\u201d<\/em> by Manu Chao. And for the longest time, that song hit me the hardest. Every time I heard it, I was instantly transported back to that last summer camp \u2014 easily the most memorable one.<\/p>\n

That was true, at least, until early September 2024.<\/p>\n

When I started texting with Her, we did so through Instagram. You know how you can add a song to your stories? (I still haven\u2019t figured out how to do it myself.) One day, I opened Instagram to read Her messages. Her story circle popped up first \u2014 and it had a song attached. The song was \u201cDance With Me\u201d<\/em> by Blink-182.<\/p>\n

In my head I went, Damn, this chick listens to Blink?<\/em>
\nSo I texted: \u201cChick, are you listening to Blink-182?\u201d<\/em>
\nShe replied: \u201cYas.\u201d<\/em> Then added, \u201cEspecially the beginning.\u201d<\/em> \u2014 which, she joked, is about teaching masturbation.<\/p>\n

I told Her Blink-182 was my favorite band when I was younger and mentioned how much I liked \u201cThe Rock Show.\u201d<\/em> She hearted those messages. So I looked up \u201cDance With Me\u201d<\/em> on Spotify \u2014 and I instantly loved it. It became my new favorite song on the spot.<\/p>\n

The good thing about Spotify is you can read the lyrics. I sometimes have trouble understanding the lyrics being sung. Even though I speak fluent English but even in my own language I have trouble understanding the lyrics. It\u2019s more like I can\u2019t really hear what they are singing.<\/p>\n

Anyway, \u201cDance With Me\u201d<\/em> is incredibly catchy, and I understood right away what it was about: wanting a deep connection with someone you’re in a relationship with.
\nAnd that was exactly what I was starting to feel for Her.
\nI was falling in love with Her \u2014 through texts and phone calls \u2014 and even that early on, I knew I wanted that deep connection with Her.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a line in the song that goes, \u201cYou beat my heart from miles away.\u201d<\/em>
\nAnd that\u2019s exactly what She was doing.
\nOver 4000 miles apart, and still, She made my heart race.<\/p>\n

When I played that song at the gym, I felt like Her was spotting me. Giving me the strength to get those last 2 reps in. I felt strong happy emotions, so strong I would almost tear up at the gym or wherever that song came on. It\u2019s weird but Her has giving emotional strength that translates into physical strength when I\u2019m working out. That song just takes it to an extra level and it still does.<\/p>\n

I guess without realizing it, Dance With Me, became our song. We didn\u2019t really say it. But I think we both agreed that it was.<\/p>\n

Fast-forward to January 8. I was on my way to meet Her in real life for the first time. I took three different flights to save money, but I finally arrived. At the airport, we had some trouble finding each other. (That story \u2014 our first day together \u2014 is one I\u2019ll tell another time.)<\/p>\n

It’s pretty late and we stop to buy some drinks and I think protein bars at Target and decide to go to bed and spend our first night together.<\/p>\n

The next day, we went out for dinner and decided on a Pizzeria.
\nThey seated us in a booth and we placed our order. While we\u2019re waiting for our pizza\u2019s she\u2019s a little quiet but I don\u2019t really notice it, she told me afterwards that she wasn\u2019t feeling all that good.
\nMy hands are reaching over the table holding Her\u2019s \u2014 and then it happened.
\nOur song started playing.<\/p>\n

We were both stunned.
\nWe had never<\/em> heard it played anywhere in public \u2014 only through our headphones, on Spotify. We both took this as a sign. A big sign, adding to all the smaller signs and coincidences that seem to happen between us that aligned us to be together.<\/p>\n

Later, She told me that hearing the song in that restaurant helped Her let go of the anxious thoughts She was having \u2014 and allowed Her to be fully present and happy in that moment with me.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve had so many seemingly impossible coincidences between us.
\nIt really feels like something \u2014 the universe, fate, whatever you want to call it \u2014 is confirming that we\u2019re meant to be together.<\/p>\n

Her told me about the Invisible String Theory<\/em>.
\nThat\u2019s the next story I\u2019ll tell.
\nIt explains all of these moments \u2014 all of these signs \u2014 so perfectly.<\/p>\n

So there you have it: Dance With Me<\/em> is our song.
\nI truly believe something placed us in that restaurant, in that moment, just so we could hear it together.
\nI felt so happy, so safe.
\nIt felt like my soul was home.<\/p>\n

Watching Her while our song played \u2014
\nwas just perfect.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>