If you're reading this I want you to take a few moments, close your eyes, and think about the things that you love the most in your life. Come up with a list of your top 10 most favorite things about life; the things you cherish, and the things you would never want to lose.

As this list forms in your mind, I want you to quickly grab a piece of paper close to you and just jot a few of the items down.

Now together, let's go over your little list of the things you adore. You've probably written down "family" or "friends," the name of a significant other and maybe the names of a pet or two. You might have thrown in "food" if you're anything like me (more specifically, avocados). Sunsets, stars, laughter, a good movie, the list could go on and you could probably write down way more than 10 things you loved if you really had to.

Regardless of how lengthy your list is, you remembered to write your name at the top of it, right?

Oh... You didn't, did you?

So, why don't you love yourself? Or were you intending to list off your name eventually and there just wasn't enough room on the scrap piece of paper?

No, my guess is that you weren't going to place yourself on the list of the things that you love, at least not in your top 10. Let me ask you... How long would it take for you to say that you loved yourself, and that you valued yourself?

Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to promote narcissism, because I don't believe that self-love and narcissism are the same thing at all. I simply want you to think about it. Why are you not on your list? Why do you not value yourself enough to put your name on the list of the people that you love and want to take care of, the people that you to treasure?

You should want to care for yourself, want to spend time with yourself, want to watch yourself grow as much as the people that you put before your name. We spend so much time trying to help others, trying to solve other people's problems for them, we forget that our mind is ours and that this life is ours. YOU ARE YOURS.

Tell me, when was the last time that you fed your mind? When was the last time that you cracked open a poetry book, read a chapter and wrote down the phrases that you really liked? Or the ones that spoke to your own unique soul?

When was the last time you watched a movie that you wanted to watch? The last time you cried over a chick-flick and laughed at yourself afterwards for being so gushy, wiped your own tears, and tucked yourself into bed?

When was the last time you tried baking a treat just for you? The last time you read a cookbook and flagged recipes that you wanted to try out to please your own taste buds?

When was the last time you took yourself for a walk? The last time you sprawled out on the floor and took some heavy breaths? How long has it been since you moved in a way that woke your muscles up and given them renewed strength?

My friend, why are you not taking care of yourself? Your body is a temple and you better not forget that it is YOUR temple. Set aside time each day to love yourself. You need to love yourself. You may not be all that you have but you are a heck of a lot more important than a sunset or a star or whatever else you wrote on your list.

Admire yourself. Look in the mirror and notice your freckles, the sparkle in your eye, the curl in your hair; all those things you admire about the people around you but never take the time to realize about yourself.

Now, look into your soul. You are so much more than what you look like (although you are beautiful in your own way). Your soul speaks volumes to me. You are a caring individual. You have hopes. You have dreams.

You aspire to become a better partner, a better sibling, a better athlete, in every way you just want to be better. My wish for you is that you will take the time to make your hopes, dreams, and aspirations a reality. Every single day.

Go back to your list. I want you to write your name right at the very top. You're not being selfish. You still love your family, friends, partners, pets, and all the rest just as much. You're just deciding that today is the day that you will finally love yourself.

It is your time now.