Life is a crazy thing. Every day, we interact with dozens of people, developing relationships that impact our lives whether it be for a day, a few months, or for years. These relationships could be with family members, friends, partners, people you really don't like, your roommates, and even random individuals passing by on your way to class. While these people may play significant roles in your life, the most significant figure in your life is yourself.
If you put your hand on your chest, you will feel your heart beating. This is a reminder that you have a body to care for and love. It's all yours, and you can do whatever you please with it. When you are happy, angry, sad, nervous, or feeling any emotion, that comes from your own mind that you are able to fill with your very own thoughts that can be shared with thousands of people, or just for yourself; a secret. Growing up, you will develop your very own likes, dislikes, passions, and dreams. You grew to like most of these things all on your own, and they are what make you unique.
Going back to the dozens of people we interact with -- one, a few, most, or even all of these individuals might share these similarities with you. You may find someone that makes you believe you were separated at birth or that you were born for each other. You may find a best friend, your other half, or your "person," in someone else. That is a great thing, no doubt about it. However, things change sometimes. What happens if your best friend is no longer such a big part of your life? What happens when the person you swore you'd be with forever is suddenly someone who is just another contact on your cellphone that you can't bring yourself to delete? What happens when it was the right person at the wrong time, or simply the wrong person to begin with? Or when you just randomly drift apart and all of a sudden, you are strangers? These are things that happen to people every day, and it's normal. Maybe it was a matter of growing up and finding different interests, or no longer feeling that strong connection that once made you feel like you were on cloud nine. Maybe there was no real catalyst, but it was just a matter of time. It happens. The point is, at the end of every day, you are only left with yourself.
When you are left with yourself, is that really a bad thing? Absolutely not. You are stuck with yourself for the rest of your life, so why not make the best of it? Watch your favorite movie, eat all your favorite foods (I seem to be the only one in my friend group that really likes an entire pineapple on my pizza, and I can enjoy that on my own. Who likes sharing pizza, anyway?)
Do your best to love and care for yourself. It might seem like an incredibly hard task sometimes, but it needs to be done. Eat the cupcake you're staring at, but make it a priority to fill your body with the nutrients it needs to be healthy and energized. Get off the couch and be active (unless you are watching "Grey's Anatomy" -- then you can be fit some other time). Think about what you can do next with your life, and how you could change something in this world. Work for your dreams. You, your body, your mind, and your passions have the power to do so many more things that you think.
While you may share incredible, memorable, meaningful, and life changing relationships with other people, the most important relationship will ultimately be with yourself. By no means does this make you full of yourself, as self-love is the path to loving others, which is a tremendously powerful and beautiful emotion to share.
The person in life that you will always be with the most, is yourself. Because even when you are with others, you are still with yourself, too! When you wake up in the morning, you are with yourself, laying in bed at night you are with yourself, walking down the street in the sunlight, you are with yourself. What kind of person do you want to walk down the street with? What kind of person do you want to wake up in the morning with? What kind of person do you want to see at the end of the day before you fall asleep? Because that person is yourself, and it's your responsibility to be that person you want to be with. I know I want to spend my life with a person who knows how to let things go, who's not full of hate, who's able to smile and be carefree. So that's who I have to be.” C. Joybell C.
And as a reminder: You are special, you are important, and you deserve to be loved.
