As I go through the struggles and opportunities of my life, I can lose perspective on how good life really is, the value of the lessons we learn, and that we really aren’t alone in our wants and desires. Everyone has them, we are just scared to share them, we hold back and keep our suffering to ourselves. I stumbled across this poem this morning and it just seemed to resonate with where I am and where I am trying to go. It inspired me, reminded me that I am on a good path no matter the obstacles, and that life really is crazy good!
As I Begin to Love Myself
I found that anguish and emotional suffering are only warning
signs that I was living against my own truth.
Today, I know, this is Authenticity.
As I began to love myself I understood how much it can offend
somebody if I try to force my desires on this person,
even though I knew the time was not right and the
person was not ready for it, and even though this person was me.
Today I call this Respect.
As I began to love myself I stopped craving for a different life,
and I could see that everything that surrounded me was
inviting me to grow.
Today I call this Maturity.
As I began to love myself I understood that at any
circumstance, I am in the right place at the right time,
and everything happens at the exactly right moment.
So I could be calm.
Today I call this Self-Confidence.
As I began to love myself I quit stealing my own time,
and I stopped designing huge projects for the future.
Today, I only do what brings me joy and happiness,
things I love to do and that make my heart cheer,
and I do them in my own way and in my own rhythm.
Today I call this Simplicity.
As I began to love myself I freed myself of anything
that is no good for my health – food, people, things, situations,
and everything that drew me down and away from myself.
At first I called this attitude a healthy egoism.
Today I know it is Love of Oneself.
As I began to love myself I quit trying to always be right,
and ever since I was wrong less of the time.
Today I discovered that is Modesty.
As I began to love myself I refused to go on living in the past
and worrying about the future. Now, I only live for the moment,
where everything is happening. Today I live each day,
day by day, and I call it Fulfillment.
As I began to love myself I recognized
that my mind can disturb me and it can make me sick.
But as I connected it to my heart, my mind became a valuable ally.
Today I call this connection Wisdom of the Heart.
We no longer need to fear arguments, confrontations
or any kind of problems with ourselves or others.
Even stars collide, and out of their crashing, new worlds are born.
Today I know: This is Life!
Accredited to Kim and Alison McMillen (Rumored to be Authored by Charlie Chaplin)
Daylene Horn Art 