~ LOVE ~
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"Love yourself first and everything else
falls into line. You really have to
love yourself to get anything done in
this world."
Lucille Ball
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It took me a long time to learn what
love truly means. I thought love
included pleasing others, saying "yes"
when I meant "no," swallowing my true
feelings and putting myself last. What I
didn’t know is that I was practicing
resentment, anger, fear, jealousy and
everything but love. I could not love
others because I did not love myself.
Then I decided to take care of myself
first. I considered no one but me, took
care of myself, (or so I thought) while
actually alienating myself from those
close to me. I ate compulsively to tame
the self-loathing I felt inside. And I
loathed myself because I did not treat
myself with real love and kindness.
Today I know that loving myself must
come first. If I love myself, I am
better able to love everyone in my life
because I do things from a place of
honesty. If I treat myself with respect,
I treat others with respect. Everyone
wins when I love myself enough to accept
myself, flaws and all.
ONE DAY AT A TIME . . .
I will ask my Higher Power for the ability to accept and love myself for where I am this day, knowing I am a work in progress like a tree that grows from self-care and nurturing.