Love Yourself

Love yourself for who you are! Change for no one! Let them accept you for you. Make changes for yourself but not to please others. Be the best version of you that you can be. Each of us are unique and bring something talented and exciting to the table. Be proud of who you are! Have faith in yourself and know that you are always growing and learning. Know that each day brings something new and no matter what it is you can face it. You are STRONG! Learn to love yourself before you can love someone else. Once you accomplish that it is easier to love another for who they are because you've learned that you are or can be just as difficult.

I've learned over the years that I've been trying to please others. Within the last couple of years, I've been working on myself bother mentally and physically. It has been a long and challenging road. There is much more that needs to be done but I've learned to love myself a little more and more each day. After all I've been through such as being a child in DSS custody (known as DCF), living with my father then my grandmother till I was 18 years-old, having my first child at 20 years-old, being in an emotional, verbal, and physically abusive relationship, to finally being able to stand on my own two feet. Through the hope and faith that I have, I've over come so much that I've been through and now I just want to share with other women who might be facing similar situations. I want to let them know they are not alone and can overcome anything. You can learn to love yourself before you learn to love someone else.

This is a hard lesson to learn but it is possible. Every day I struggle, and I barely find time for me, but I know the more I prioritize and become organized that I will make time for, "ME". My children are my pride and joy but at one point I didn't care about myself and was just about getting by. Now I know I need to take care of me and love me to be able to be a good mother. I am blessed beyond all measures as many other mothers would say. Point to take away from this is just put yourself first. It is okay to have a selfish moment because the moment you stop loving yourself is when the depression sinks back in and thoughts of not being good enough creep in. Love yourself for who you are and make changes along the way if you aren't satisfied. Just make the time! Know that anything is possible, and self-love is important especially in today's society. We are losing focus on the big picture because we are always so busy but at times we need to slow down and refocus on the things that matter and not just skip on by in a fast pace motion.

Just know you are not alone if you feel unloved or don't love yourself enough. There are plenty of others out there struggling in a similar or exact same way. Don't feel you can't reach out to someone and talk to them. Don't feel that you can't take time for just yourself because you can. Regroup and collect your thoughts alone or join a community group or hobby you find exciting and fun. Talk to your friends and know they are there to listen. In your darkest times just slow down and re-center yourself. Remember all the things you love about yourself and just breathe. Focus on you and everything will slowly fall into place once more.

Life is fast pace and never slows down but only you have the button to hit pause. Hit pause so you can find the time to self-love yourself. Whether it be a massage, manicure or pedicure, reading a book, being out with friends, yoga, meditation, etc. Whatever the activity may be just allow yourself to fall in love with you once more.