Ah, February...a month of love. Valentine's Day falls directly in the middle of the month. And, while there are various days off from work or school (ranging from one day to ten days) for Presidents' Day and such, when people think of February, they tend to think of LOVE.
There are many people in the world who have never known love of any kind. There are people who claim to know how to love, but they miss a huge step. There are people who have fond the true love of their lives. There are people on an eternal quest to find love. Then there are people who love everyone. They share love. They live love. so, what's the secret?
Ready for this?
It begins with you.
It also begins with me.
It begins with each and every one of us.
I am co-founder of a small Facebook group, Project 60. In January, I announced a new self-love challenge beginning February 1. And then, I fell ill.
I got up. I went to work. I returned home. I ate a little when I could and I was in bed early. My first two weeks of February were spent doing this. Yet, I kept my focus on self-love. For me, self-love meant taking care of me and getting back to being healthy. If you've had this flu going around this year, you know the aches, pains, and fatigue are really rough. Now, put that into the body of someone with Fibromyalgia who deals with aches, pains, and fatigue on a regular basis. One morning I woke up ad could hardly walk. It took all I could muster out of myself to get to the kitchen to take some Aspirin. And then, I got ready and went to work. I repeated this the next day. I then spent most of the weekend in bed and woke up Monday morning and it hit me just how sick I was. It still took my dad saying something to me about it before I realized that I needed to stay home. I wanted to put my students first but it finally all caught up to me and I had to put myself first...I was number one. And thanks to that, I was able to return to work the next day and work through the rest of the illness that seems to have included bronchitis and laryngitis. Still, I took care of me and allowed myself to be my best under the circumstances for my students and my two children at home. I had to put me first. And I did that just in time to start the month of love.
Self-love. It all begins with self-love.
We have to love ourselves in order to more fully and completely love others. I am able to love my children because I love myself. I am able to love my students because I love myself. I am able to love my friends and family as fully as I do because I love myself. I have to remember to show myself that love. And you do too.
We need more love in the world.
And it starts at home...in our own hearts...with ourselves.
I immersed myself in some work this weekend out of love for myself. "How" you may ask, "do you love yourself by working on the weekend?" I alleviated stress and I got significantly caught up on the things I had fallen behind on while I was sick. I took a break to have my haircut more to what I wanted and to find someone to do my nails (more on this in a moment). Later, I went to visit a friend. This friend is also my nail tech. We were friends first. But she started doing my nails seven years ago and she's the only person I've gone to for my nail needs. She was diagnosed with cancer recently and this visit was important to both of us. #wegotthis but we needed this visit and we will need others. (Your prayers are appreciated.) Her love for life and her readiness to fight are inspiring. I wish all could love life so fully. We all really should.
How much do you love yourself? How do you show it?
Sometimes I wear make-up to show it. Sometimes I skip make-up to show it. Sometimes I take myself out for coffee. Sometimes I take myself out for dinner. Sometimes I take time out for me. Sometimes I take time out with my kids. Sometimes I find a conference or workshop to attend that will make me even better at what I do. Whatever I do, wherever I go...I invest in me. I invest in me because I am worthy. I am worthy.
There are people who underestimate how much they are loved. My heart breaks for them. If you're reading this, please allow me to say...YOU ARE WORTHY.
Where is the love?
It starts with each and every one of us. Take a moment and tell yourself, "I love you." The rest will come.
Be. Live. Believe. 2015.
And with that and a "Mommy, I want to do important stuff like you," from Miss Hollywood...I am off for now.
Peace and love be with you. I am awesome. And so are you. <3
