How Do I Love ME?

“To love oneself is the beginning of a life-long romance” – Oscar Wilde

We are all familiar with the poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, “How Do I Love

Thee?” And perhaps as Valentines Day approaches we have turned our thoughts to our significant other and our loved ones. And while taking time to honor the ones that are closest to our hearts is a wonderful thing to do, my question is this: how do I love ME?

We often get so caught up in taking care of OTHERS that at the end of the day there’s nothing left for ourselves. Yes, I realize that life is busy! We are all going a hundred miles an hour, rushing from one thing to the next. There’s work, school, after-school activities, shopping, cooking, etc. But that’s my point. When do we stop and take time for ourselves? Quite often by the time we get around to taking some time for ourselves, we don’t even know what we want, what we like, or who we are!

Taking time for ourselves isn’t just going to happen. Now more than ever it is important for us to take the time to nurture our mind, body, and Spirit because we are constantly bombarded by outside influences that are vying for our attention and telling us what to do and how to behave.

We are hooked on our devices, often wasting precious time that could be spent towards fulfilling personal goals and reconnecting to the life we are truly meant to live!

But, giving yourself the gift of time is perhaps the greatest gift not only for you but for those around you. When you take the time to do the things you enjoy without feeling guilty, you are giving others permission to do the same.

So, this week I encourage you to show yourself some love!

You, yourself, as much as anybody else in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection. Buddha

Schedule time to go see that movie you’ve been wanting to see, take a relaxing bath, move your body, meet a friend for lunch, or just take a few hours one afternoon to daydream, create a vision board, or read that book you’ve been meaning to read.

If you don’t know where to begin, I suggest starting with 5 or 10 minutes to be still. Call it meditation, prayer, or taking an effing minute. But start there. That still small voice within is there and just waiting for you to get quiet enough to be heard.

Self-love is about honoring that voice. Say yes when you mean yes, and no when you mean no. It’s either a SACRED YES or a HOLY NO! Get it?!

We’ve got to model this behavior if we want to teach our kids what healthy relationships with boundaries look like and that our needs are just as important as anyone else’s needs.

Give YOURSELF permission to do the thing that you’ve been wanting do. Show the people in your life that YOU, as much as anyone else deserve to have your heart’s desire!

How do I love ME? Let me count the ways…..

With Love & Gratitude,

Kinda and Rachel