I love love. The love of people, religion, animals, sports, politics and even money. It’s no wonder we find ourselves sacrificing for the love that fuels the passion that gives our lives purpose. I don’t know if there is anything I wouldn’t do for the one who has my heart. However, there is a lot I don’t and probably wouldn’t do for myself. Loving ourselves is too often overlooked and omitted.

I have witnessed people constantly excuse their loved ones for sending them into emotional turmoil. It is that toxic love that leads to subconsciously hating oneself. I personally have experienced loathing the person I became while being involved in a relationship that was in no way good for me. Looking back now, I realize that we both lost ourselves in each other and no longer were the people who worked so well together in the beginning. I think that society has misconstrued this idea that in order to truly declare and prove one’s love for the other, we must sacrifice everything. However, I believe that when you meet the “right” person, they won’t make you sacrifice anything.

Can you imagine spending the rest of your life giving up your wants, dreams, morals and everything else that makes up the most spectacular part of being exactly who you are? That is why I now refuse to be involved with someone unless they not only accept me, but also encourage me, and embrace and love the person I am.

I am sure there are some that can identify with me when I say, loving yourself is hard. Accepting the mistakes I have made and the fact that I will make more in the future is a hard concept to wrap my brain around. Waking up every morning aware that some and maybe most, don’t share my views on the world and maybe even in this piece, but that does not make me wrong.

It is not wrong to love yourself before you love anyone else. I believe that the amount of love and respect someone has for themselves will reflect the love and respect they receive from others. It astounds me how quickly love found me when I found love for myself. Embracing the person I am is something I consciously have to work at every day, but I no longer wake up in the morning feeling unworthy of the amazing people in my life.