One of my favourite quotes from literature is from Toni Morrison’s Beloved: “you are your best thing”. It’s an important reminder to love and cherish yourself, even in some of your darkest and most difficult times. And that’s what today’s short post is about.
If the lockdown has taught me one thing, it’s that sitting in my PJs all day and never brushing my hair is not a good thing. As I write this, the rain is pouring down outside (even though it’s July) and Lucy my housemate is wallowing in hangover misery – a combination that has left me feeling sleepy and sorry for myself. To combat this, I’m feeling like now is the time to show myself a little bit of love and start to feel a bit more “me” again.
For anyone who’s not aware of the term, self love is about taking some time out to pay attention to your own happiness. It goes beyond just giving yourself a little treat or pick-me-up; it’s about appreciation and acceptance. There is a misconception that self love is vain, narcissistic or selfish. But it’s not about spoiling yourself or taking a million selfies (but if that’s what makes you happy, then there’s no shame in that either). To me, self love is a state of mindfulness. It’s a reminder that you are the only you in the world and are something to be taken care of.
We’re living in some crazy times, that have left many of us feeling anxious, depressed, unvalued or unloved and now is the time to remember what we as individuals can offer to the world and to ourselves. After all, in the immortal words of RuPaul “if you can’t love yourself, how in the hell are you gonna love somebody else?”
Focus on yourself first, and the rest will follow.
Just Emma Things 