Hey there,
I hope you're not tired of this love matter. We've explored different aspects of self-love in the community so this may seem repetitive. I promise you it's not.
In the last edition, I wrote about how we usually find it hard to transition from being dependent as a kid to be independent as an adult. Over the week, while we had discussions in the community, I also explored other aspects of self-love. I couldn't stop thinking about people who never had that safety net while growing up. People who didn't get to experience love as kids, people who grew up fending for themselves, people who never had someone to catch them when they fell. This one is for you.
You may find it difficult to truly love yourself if you grew up not liking who you are. I'm not talking about random teenage dislikes here and there. I'm talking about growing up thinking something is fundamentally wrong with you. I don't know how you got to that point and if you'll allow me to be savage, it's none of my business. I'm writing this love letter to you who finds it hard to look into the mirror. To you who don't believe you deserve love. To you who doubt your abilities. To those who for one reason or the other feel broken. This love letter is to you who's always there for others but not yourself. I hope this letter finds you in a state of tranquillity.
llhan Omar, United States Representative. photo from pinterest.com
It's hard to love yourself if you don't know what love is. And love isn’t a one-way thing, there are numerous ways to love yourself. Self-love is the permission slip you give yourself to be your undiluted self. It is accepting yourself for who you are, flaws and all. It is waking up every morning with praises to Allah for creating you. Self-love teaches you to see beauty in other people. If you love yourself, you're more likely to love others too.
As you go into the week, I hope you acknowledge your desires, the things that keep you up at night. I hope you give yourself permission to dream and make mistakes. I hope you set aside time for your well-being. I hope you give yourself the love you give freely to others.
Sallam alaykum waramatulah.
With love,
Umaynah