Love’s Hangover

From the Heart of CEO, Sonya Ferreira This morning, I woke up to something I’ve never experienced before… a hangover but not the kind brought on by alcohol or chemicals.

Decades in the military cemented me as an early riser, someone who cherishes the quiet before the sun peeks over the horizon. I enjoy watching the day as it greets me fresh and new but this morning was different. I was slow to get up, sluggish and not quite feeling like my usual self. It was not from a late-night party or anything poured into a glass.

It was love’s hangover.

I did not know such a thing existed until today.  I’ve always avoided drugs and alcohol, even coffee, because I am sensitive to anything artificial and strong drinks. I do not like the way they make me feel so I’ve learned my life is not built for fillers that only mask deeper longings.

Yesterday was my birthday, and what I received was unlike anything I can bottle, brew, or prescribe. It was an outpouring of pure kindness, encouragement, and genuine affection. Friends, family, and people I’ve shared life with over the years flooded my day with messages, calls, gifts, and thoughtful gestures. I was so overwhelmed, I forgot I actually had gifts and cards to open until today.

As I lay in bed this morning, I thought—I feel “intoxicated” in the best way, with love. The kind that left me feeling dizzy with joy, not regret. The kind that overflows without the crash or emptiness that comes from superficial highs.

In that still moment, I heard the sweetest reminder: “While I was still a sinner, Christ died for me so I could be alive in this moment...What kind of love is this?”  Tears overflowed—not from sadness, but from deep gratitude. In a world where cruelty can be loud and kindness seems scarce, it is easy to chase things that never satisfy. Real treasures are not found in possessions or positions; they are found in relationships.

If I could bottle this feeling and give it away, I would because you are loved, too!

My hope is that everyone experiences this kind of love at least once in their lifetime—to be so full it leaves you with a “beautiful hangover.”