Happy Love Day 💞 🌹

                                       Happy Love Day!

Although Valentine’s Day is commercialized to be mostly about couples – except in grade school, when we gave those cute little cards to all our classmates – I think we miss the point when we don’t include ourselves in the picture.

I remember being 28 years old when I decided that my life goal was to learn how to love myself and others unconditionally. Prior to that, I had no concept of what it meant to love myself. I was somebody who had been pretty critical of myself and had pretty low self esteem. Now….after almost 40 years learning and practicing love – here is some of what it means to me to love myself….

It means being incredibly sweet to myself.  To not only be kind to myself when I make mistakes, but to accept all parts of me.

It means to pause when I am feeling uptight and reactive – and to place my hand gently on my heart and inquire within    “What is it, sweetie?  What’s happening that’s making you feel so bad?”                                                                                     And then I take the time to listen… to my mind, to my heart, and to my body.

When I feel angry or jealous or ashamed or resistant – I am present to those difficult emotions – with love and compassion. I practice the way my teacher, Thich Nhat Hanh taught me. ” My dear difficult emotion, I see you.  I know that you are a part of me and that you are needing my kind attention.  I really want to be here for you.  Let me offer you my mindful breath to help bring you ease. Please tell me what it is that you need from me.”

And this kind of Presence softens a difficult emotion.  Our feelings just want to be seen and loved.  Just like the rest of us does.

To love myself means to spend time quietly with just me – so that I can listen to what nourishes me – and then to do it.  Whether it is to spend time alone in nature, or with my beloved, or doing something nurturing for my body, or creating something that fills my soul,..

It means to recognize my loveliness – my good qualities – and not deny them. And to  realize that I have something to offer in the world.

We all do.

And when we love ourselves, it increases our capacity to love others. Those in our lives, and the whole world …. needs our love.  Because Love changes things.  And God knows, we need change in our world.

So… whether from the Buddha:   “You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire Universe, deserve your love and affection”

Or from the Christian scriptures:  “Love your neighbor AS yourself”

Or from the Hebrew writings in Proverbs: “He that gains wisdom loves his own soul”

The wisdom of the ages reminds us to Love ourselves.

And so, on this Valentine’s Day, may we recognize that love begins at home – right inside of our own hearts – towards us!  I invite you to take time, during this day, and really every day…. to be really sweet to yourself. You deserve it! Life can be tough enough without us being tough on ourselves!

Happy Valentine’s Day!!!

P.S.  I’ve included a meditation for you, below, to help you with loving YOU!!!🌹