Couple Care: Quinton Brock and Kayko Donald

A creative couple born in New York is a romantic story that every of us dreams of. For Quinton Brock AND I’m Donald, that is their reality. Donald is a digital marketing wizard who spends his time working with artists and creating playlists: “I feel like my goal is just to make hot shit,” he tells ESSENCE via Facetime. What about Brock? Thanks to his burgeoning profession as a player, he can be a cheater rock musicianmusic producer and talent manager.

“How we met? She followed me into the lavatory,” Brock jokes. “Lies,” Donald denies. The truth is that they were on the set of a music video with Brock because the background guitarist and Donald because the producer; the remaining was history. “I will say there was definitely a connection there,” he says. Now, two years into their relationship, the duo proves that opposites do indeed attract, as Donald has roots in sunny Granada and Brock is said to the mountains and snow of Buffalo, New York.

For them, caring for a pair goes beyond making quesadillas at 1 a.m. and their intense exercise program. It’s in regards to the intimate moments of attention between them. “I think we do a really good job of trying to keep up with ourselves as individuals to be the best person for our partner,” Brock says. “Being able to appreciate the time we get to spend together and be our best selves strengthens our relationship.”

Here, the busy couple took time to talk over with ESSENCE about couple care. Read on to seek out out more about their relationship and how they show up for one another.

Their favorite memory of caring for the couple:

Quinton: Our first date was at a jazz club. We went to a jazz evening at this little cocktail bar. Then she said, “I want to take you on a nice date and surprise you.” And I said, “OK, cool.” She didn’t tell me where we were going. And then, the following thing I knew, I used to be in Jersey. I believed it was a arrange because we were in Jersey. But she took me to Sojo Spa. She had a day pass and it was very nice.

Kajko: When he got here to Granada, we had a extremely deep conversation about what it meant for each of us. We realized that we actually desired to learn and understand one another and that we grew up in very different cultures. It was really special for me to see him literally on the third day in Granada singing all of the soca songs. He didn’t even know what he was singing, but he sang. He sang it loud and strong and I used to be so completely satisfied.

What self-care means to them individually:

Kajko: I’d say it is vital because you possibly can’t be your best partner in case you’re not your best self. I take into consideration where I need to go together with Quinton and I feel like I actually need to live with him in addition to possible, for so long as possible, and which means sacrificing sometimes the things you need to do for the things you recognize that you might want to do. And I do not at all times wish to rise up at 6:00. Sometimes I’d get up around 5:00 a.m. to be sure that I could do the whole lot I needed to do to exercise and be fit for the half marathon.

And truthfully, it is a sacrifice, but at the tip you possibly can say that you just did something that you just’re pleased with and that gave you confidence. It’s something nobody can take away from you. Or you possibly can walk away being a greater person and a greater partner. So I’d say that self-confidence is what self-care gives me. This is very important because after I do not feel confident, I do not feel grateful, and I do not feel like myself when I’m not grateful.

Quinton: I really like travelling. If I get a call tomorrow saying I’m occurring tour to Seattle, I’m out. And it’s happened before, it’s happened again and again with us, and I’ve been on the road for months, and I feel we are able to really appreciate the time we are able to spend together and be one another’s best, which strengthens our relationship and has created such the muse that we feel comfortable being apart for thus long. I feel having those times and those memories and constructing that form of bond together through caring for one another; getting our hair done, or we just exercise together, etc. that is what makes all of it vital to us in the long term.

Their wellness routines:

Kajko: I run and then I’m going to the gym. But I feel running could be very spiritual for me.

Quinton: I exercise six days every week. Shout out to the madness of Shaun T. I’m doing the identical workout I began in September. More than exercise and stuff like that, I actually love cooking. I cook day by day.

Kajko: One day to his cooking station when it was about 1:00 a.m. and I used to be like, “I’m so hungry.” And he said, “Do you want a quesadilla?” This boy got here downstairs and made me one of the best quesadilla ever.

Self-care lessons they learned from one another:

Kajko: We were sober for many of the last yr. Instead of going to the club, we hung out together differently. We would go to the New York Philharmonic together or spend time doing out-of-the-box things that you just would not do in case you drank.

Quinton: I’d say that stopping drinking has really modified my life because I began a brand new job at the highest last yr and there may be plenty of alcohol there. There’s at all times alcohol because I work in these clubs and different places. For this, I had to actually discover a option to re-evaluate my relationship with alcohol because I discovered myself drinking loads and gaining weight. I feel like New York has truthfully opened as much as me since I ended drinking, which is crazy, but I actually feel that way.

The products they presented to one another:

Kajko: I’m from the Caribbean and we prefer to do many things holistically. I need to say that I used to be very against medicine. I don’t need to take the pill. Even if I’m sick, I’m fantastic. It definitely showed me that not all medicines are bad for you and some might be good for you. And truthfully, as he said, he at all times cooks for real. When I’m with him, I do know I’ve had enough.

Quinton: The most significant thing I can definitely say is that she applied it to moisturize my face and my skincare routine. I used to be using any lotion or whatever on my face and she said, “You can’t do that.” When you grow up, you will appear to be a gargoyle. She fixed me. She put me on Mielle hair oil for locks.

I smoked tobacco. She was very adamant that I not smoke on a regular basis. Now I even have completely given up tobacco and nicotine products for over a yr. I feel really good about it and I’m so grateful to Kayko for really being each my cheerleader and co-pilot on this case.