"I love this song!"

"That show is my favorite!"

"I really like your shoes!"

Very often, I hear others, myself included, saying how much we love things. Whether it be a show on Netflix, a type of candy, or a song on the radio, there's always something to be loved. I am a huge fan of dishing out compliments. Because really, when has giving someone else a compliment ever caused anything but a smile? Everyone loves to hear a compliment every once in a while. The thing is, we often compliment and say we love things about others so much, yet it can be so hard for us to truly love ourselves.

This led me to think about what the world would be like if we could learn to love ourselves as much as we seem to love so many other things. If it is so easy to say, "I love that store!" why can't we look at ourselves in the mirror and say, "I love the way my hair looks today," or "I really like the color of my eyes"? It may be because society has taught us not to be conceited, self-centered, or narcissistic. It may be because we have a fear that if we love ourselves, others will simply think we are obsessed with ourselves, or we think that we are "all that." It may be because we struggle with self-consciousness, low self-esteem, or perhaps a mental illness.

It is sad that complimenting ourselves, and loving who we are, does not come naturally to most of us. Sure, on occasion, most of us probably admit to ourselves that we look good in a certain outfit, or that we had a "good hair day." But this is not enough. It should not be such a struggle to realize and acknowledge how special and unique we are. We don't give ourselves enough credit. Every time you think, "Wow, I love that shirt," or "Her hair always looks so perfect!" someone is probably thinking something similar about you. You just may not even realize it.

This isn't to say that we should abandon our love for others and our favorite things. However, if we learn to apply the love we express to others toward ourselves, it would be a truly beautiful thing.