When I decided to proclaim being a self-love promoter, I didn’t know what it truly meant. I started this blog with the mindset of focusing on the importance of showing ourselves love when others don’t accept us because of how we look or how much we weigh. I still believe we should love ourselves despite the negativity of others regarding our physical appearance; however, I am learning there are more aspects to exercising self-love than what I originally stated 10 years ago. Because of this, I owed myself an apology and a changed behavior. In a nutshell, I haven’t been loving myself, and I’m still learning how to do it. This may be surprising to some, considering I am at the tail end of my forties. Be that as it may, my age will never be a deterrent from learning something, especially when it involves understanding how to treat myself well.

The need to be a better person to myself occurred to me about two years ago. I failed to set boundaries in what I thought were relationships, which turned out to be entanglements. Additionally, I noticed I could have been more gracious and nicer to myself during challenging moments. This inspired me to think about how I view love, which I consider to be a crucial step in demonstrating self-love. I don’t believe I can effectively do what I don’t understand. Furthermore, I realize and accept that I am responsible for the decisions I made in my life. I also own not loving myself enough to stop allowing things I didn’t deserve or want. Nevertheless, I would not be who I am without the pain from my heartaches and the joy of my triumphs. And it behooves me to release my past perceived failures, guilt, and upheavals of life so I can embrace my future. (Isaiah 43:18-19)

As I begin my quest to learn how to love myself day by day, I acknowledge the need to change my ways, forgive past actions—mine and others, and choose not to remember the acts. (Psalm 103:12)

I’m also learning it is okay to pivot, when necessary, and you are invited to join me on my journey once again. This is not a one-time exercise; it takes effort, time, and most of all a learning curve.

Until the next time be you—and more importantly—learn to love you.

Being uniquely you is being uniquely beautiful.

-B.B. 💋