Life is ever changing. I know this, you know this. We have plans, but our life has other ones. Our world is changing, and rapidly. It seems like it is easier for us to get in a routine... day in and day out, stick to it and when one little thing doesn’t go the right way we want to crumble. I am guilty of it and so are you. We mold ourselves into life and become skeletons. We dream of who we want to be but we never actually put forth the effort to do it. It is like we have everything we need to change-- but we just don’t do it.

I challenge you to ask yourself this question: When was the last time you did something to take care of yourself?

Was it minutes ago? Days? Weeks? Geez, please don’t tell me months or years.

Every waking day that you have been on this Earth your body has taken care of you, but have you taken care of it? Sure, you feed yourself daily. But is what your putting into your body healthy? Is it treating your body right? We become so consumed with everything we want and we begin to lose focus of ourselves. We begin to set ourselves aside and say we will come back to us, but we never do. And when we finally do have alone time to do something for ourselves... we're too tired. You've spent all your time selflessly over spreading yourself for others that you're not being selfish. You don't know how to say "no." It isn't selfish to take care of yourself. Matter of fact, it is necessary!

Here is your next challenge: Think of yourself when you were five, better yet! Go blow off the dust from an old album and take out a photo of yourself at five years old. Tape it on your mirror and I want you to ask yourself this question-- how would you treat this little bundle of joy?

I bet you would feed her the best of the best. You would let her grow and spread her wings. You'd allow her to nap and laugh and scream and cry. When she was feeling down, you would lift her higher than she has ever been. You'd make sure she knew she was loved every second of every day. When she would look in the mirror and say with a lisp, "I don't like my curly hair." You'd reply back, "Oh, but darling. That is what makes you, you. It shapes your face perfectly and matches your spontaneous character." You'd ensure that her needs were taken care of to the best of your ability and you'd only set her up for success.

I need you to apply how you would treat your younger-self to treat your adult-self. Just because you've grown in age does not mean you are any less deserving of healthy food, restful sleep, and endless amounts of love. I need you to love yourself as if you would talk to someone you love. Think about it, those twelve words are not meant to be taken lightly.

How many times a day do you take a selfie, look in the mirror, and think about yourself in a negative way? What if you wrote those comments down and read them to your friend? Parent? Significant other? Would they cry? Feel hurt? Would they take them lightly? Or would they completely shut down because of how harsh the words are? How we talk to ourselves through verbal words and thoughts is ultimately how we come to feel about ourselves, the way we look, and the way the world perceives us.

If you're at a point in your life where you're not utterly in love with yourself, don't be harsh on yourself. Talk to yourself as you would to someone you love. It's easier said then done. It's hard. But hard is worth it in the end. Build yourself up in every aspect of your life. Love yourself through every pound gained or lost. Love yourself and don't compare. You are you. Don't try to conform to the normalcy others. Love yourself whether you have brown, blonde, black, curly, or straight hair. Just. Love. Yourself. Please, it's the least you could do to living a simpler and happier life; mentally, physically, and emotionally.

Take care of yourself.