Self Love And Concern

Self-love is the road toward healing. These prompts are an invitation to step inside yourself. Rupi Kaur

Stepping inside sometimes means putting yourself out there for all who read these. It is okay with me as unless it is a top story there are very few readers. Self-love is where I am on my best days. I know it is not good for me to be anywhere else.

There is an understanding that without self-love, do I love anyone else? The healing I do is not only for me but for my ancestors and future generations. Loving myself, our grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and our children means loving future generations too!

Rupi Kaur's Self-Love Writing Prompts - Write about a time when you felt embarrassed, but which you laugh about now.

My siblings and I had an adoption ceremony. We adopted a cousin as a brother. His three siblings had all died within a few years and his mother had died shortly after. In our Native American culture, I have attended other adoptions over the years. Most were Lakota/Dakota people.

Some of the adoptions were not blood relatives. In talking with my siblings we all thought this was a good idea. Our deceased sister and mother were especially close to this cousin. My sister was the same age as him.

What was embarrassing for me about this is we had many family and friends who attended this gathering. The spiritual advisor, who performed the ceremony my brother invited to do this for us. I didn't know him well. During the ceremony, he kept referring to me as the mother.

I am just 3 years older than the adopted brother and when I asked the spiritual advisor why he said that my son needs a mother yet as his mother has only been gone a short time. I then told him, so does that make me his mother, sister, and cousin? And I laughed.

Because he was serious, I embarrassed myself. Then I realized that others in the group who understood the Ojibwe language understood that the advisor was designating me as his mother, not his sister.

At that point I kept thinking, how can I be his mother? And do I look old enough to be his mother?

It wasn't long though before I was joking, teasing, and having a good time in my role as his mother. I said, "Now, I can boss him!" and he said, "You already do that!"

My adopted brother is a professor at a tribal college and we train together on a Native American curriculum. Sometimes I do say a thing or two and now I attribute that to being his mother!

Rupi Kaur's Self-Love Writing Prompts - When I'm confident, I feel ________________.

Confidence feels good

It is almost like I could

do anything I should

set my mind to and would

that be great to have stood

in a bookstore with my name

on a poster, or in fame

Rupi Kaur's Self-Love Writing Prompts - Think about the part of your body you've felt most insecure about. Write that body part a letter that starts with an apology and ends with gratitude.

My tummy, round and plump,

I cover you with long shirts and sweaters.

I had some large babies - not your fault

9 and 10 pounds - six ounces

I am recovering from a food addiction

not continuing to go up in weight

slowly going down

I am not an exercise fan

I did that obsessively and compulsively too

weighing is an issue along with the rest

For today, I am sorry for the treatment of you

For today, I am so grateful for every part of me!

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