“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
“Women wish to be loved not because they are pretty, or good, or well bred, or graceful, or intelligent, but because they are themselves.”
“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.” – Helen Keller.
Loving others, loving anything, makes us feel connected. Our family, our friends, our pets, our lovers, husbands, wives… anything in the world (or hey, maybe you like space). We all love something. Sometimes it’s ourselves. Obviously too much self-love is selfish, but we do need to love ourselves.
Loving yourself is very important, and it is also very difficult. Sometimes, for some of us-a lot of the time, the mirror image is not friendly. She sneers at us and gives a disappointing look after giving us the up-down. She analyzes and judges. She’s never satisfied.
We need a new image. Someone who looks back at us grinning. Someone giving us a thumbs up for that yoga session. Someone who’s still beaming from the delicious ice cream sundae we ate yesterday. Someone who is strong, but can accept when she is weak.
Self-love is hard, but it’s not impossible. In all honesty, you are always going to be able to count on yourself. Others may let you down, but you are always going to be there for yourself. If you are a person of faith like me, I know God is always there for me.
I was at church today and the pastor ended a prayer with “We love you, God. Amen.” What? Wait. I missed that. I don’t know about you, but I say all my Amen’s and I say my prayers and I even list all the things I’m thankful for. I don’t ever say I love you though. Which is weird because I know how much God loves me. Infinitely. Always. Forever.
Maybe it’s because I have so much trouble loving myself that I have so much trouble admitting that I love God. I was created in God’s image. I am embarrassed that I don’t love myself because I know God made me the way I am. Self-loathing goes completely against what God feels. I don’t know about you, but I’m not exactly ready to stand up to the guy who made the earth.
I am on a journey towards self-love. It took me so long to allow myself to trust someone so much enough to love them. Loving Adam has taught me so many things about myself that I wouldn’t have discovered if I had continued to hold up these walls, these barriers. I have had a lot of things happen in my past that have caused me to be guarded, and it’s also always been a part of my personality. Letting those walls down for Adam and close friends has changed my life. I’m not saying I am completely free. I still guard myself from hurt and pain. Unfortunately hurt & pain are necessary because we are human and we are enrolled in the school of life.
Love is many things. Love is picking someone up when they need a ride. Love is giving someone flowers on a bad day. Love is forgiving someone who has wronged you. Love is letting go of anger. Love is hugs. Love is snuggling on a winter night.
Love is kissing in the rain. Love is giving up the remote. Love is compromise. Love is prayer. Love is laying in the grass in the sunshine. Love is playing with a dog in the park. Love is donating your time. Love is a movie night with friends. Love is truth and honesty.
Love is whispering secrets under the stars. Love is ice cream and chocolate. Love is smiling because you can. Love is dancing in the rain. Love is running. Love is celebrating your body. Love is life. Love is yoga. Love is taking time for yourself. Love is taking risks. Love is adventurous.
What is love to you?
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