Who do you love?

Who do you love? It's a valid question. A question we are all asked at some point, and one we ask others.

Who do you love?

Is it your family? Your friends? Your children? Your pets? Your boyfriend or girlfriend? Your God? These are all real answers, valid answers. They are important answers. But are they the most important?

Who do you love?

Is the answer ever yourself?

The Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines "self-love" as a) conceit and b) regard for one's own happiness or advantage. It then lists synonyms such as egotism, pridefulness, smugness, and vanity. Why does the concept of loving oneself carry such a negative connotation in much of today's society? It seems that many of us have either been taught, or drawn the conclusion from personal experience, that loving ourselves should take a back seat to loving others.

I have spent years attempting to please those that love me, and even those that didn't love me. I focus on what I need to do to gain acceptance from others. I frett about what the "right" decisions are and how my decisions look in the eyes of others. I let other's opinions of me build me up, or tear me down. I agonize about not meeting the expectations of those that love me. And over time, I have not only lost love for myself, I have lost sight of myself completely. I'm not just in the back seat, I am in the trunk.

The trunk is a dark, empty, scary place to be once you realize you are there. And you really only have two options once the full realization of the situation hits you. Option number one is to kick out a tail light, see the light, and fight your way out. Option number two. . .is to stay there and die. This blog is about option number one. It's about getting back into the driver's seat of my own life. It's about embracing the uniqueness that is me, and not letting the opinions of others assign my worth. It's about reestablishing a love relationship with myself. . .one week at a time. Every week for 52 weeks I will take the time to intentionally show love to myself in some way, shape, or form.

Are you in the back seat of your own life? The passenger seat? Or, heaven forbid, you are in the trunk like me. Regardless of where you are, maybe you will want to join me on this journey. I would love to hear your stories of self love.

I'm asking you now. . .Who do you love?