I was made from love.

We were all made from love, we were all made to love not just someone, else but ourselves, and somehow, we’ve lost that. I remember as a child being surrounded by so much love it was palpable, you could feel it, and you believed in it. I was raised with loving hands, smiles, hugs, and kisses. I had so much love that eventually, I started becoming it. I was a product of love and therefore, I loved myself. I was taught to love myself, taught to think that even when I cried, I was beautiful. I was taught to love everyone and everything no matter what. Love conquered all and it was important to love.

As we grow up though, we lose the love we have for ourselves. We are told it is selfish, narcissistic, and it is wrong. We must be perfect in order to love who we are, we must meet a certain set of standards in order to be available for someone to love us. We have inadvertently lost the ability to see ourselves as others see us. The ability of seeing beauty and kindness is replaced with the strong ability to criticize and see flaws that don’t even exist. Pessimism runs through our veins like water, and negativity is the new serotonin and dopamine, released in lieu of reward and happiness, and we think this okay. This is supposed to be our new normal. It’s part of our aesthetic as humans to be broken and unlovable. It isn’t normal though. It isn’t vanity to like how you look and it isn’t selfishness to love yourself more than someone who’s never done anything for you. It's self-preservation and one of the most beneficial things one can do in this society for themselves. Love isn't limited to just something or someone, there is plenty of it. Everyone can have a piece of your love, without you leaving yourself out.

Dear Love, we miss you. I miss you. I am so sorry I lost you in game to please everyone else. I’m sorry I abandoned you when I should have cherished you. That we in this world, have called you anything but love in our quest to be who we think people want us to be. You are what makes the word go round, what keeps our tears falling and our hearts beating. We miss you so much and we want you back. I say we all endeavor to find you again. We do something to benefit ourselves. It is my challenge to myself and everyone else to go out and find the love that is fearless and limitless even when it comes to yourself. A love so strong, that as it breaks your heart, it also mends it at the exact same time. To love someone is a skill, but to love yourself is a talent that can be taught. With enough practice, time, and nurture, we can make loving ourselves the newest trend and biggest accomplishment. So, I challenge you, I challenge me, to love again.