Brené Brown says,
We cultivate love,
when we allow
our most vulnerable
and powerful
selves
to be deeply seen
and known,
and when we honor
the spiritual connection
that grows
from that offering
with trust,
respect,
kindness
and affection.
She says,
We can only love others
as much
as we love ourselves.
So, I’m going to try
to love all of me,
to love the lines on my face
and, also, to love
my dreams of Botox,
being pink and shiny,
soft and pretty.
my gray hairs
and the pretty highlights
my hairdresser gives me
over long talks
about meditation and books,
Christmas presents and children,
parents dying.
to love my strength
my strong shoulders
and ability to stand up tall,
to lift heavy things,
to balance,
to sit for a week in meditation
with no pain.
to also love my back
that sometimes goes out
shooting sharp jolts
when I move,
the fold of skin
that falls over the line
from the c-section
when my daughter came.
to love how I pee my pants
whenever I cough or laugh
too hard
because of my strong
determination
to push my son out
in birth
to love every person
I used to be
all the mistakes I made
and ugliness I caused,
wrapping it all up in a soft blanket
and lying it down
on the warm sand
by the vast ocean waves.
Finally, loving myself enough
to let it go.
to love the many times
I got it right.
I paid all my bills
and took time to recycle.
I turned out lights,
was kind to my husband,
read to babies,
burned candles,
traveled to other countries
on foot,
or through people,
friends,
books
to love my introversion,
my close friends,
my dislike of
being around people
that talk to much
to love how I keep going,
keep sweeping floors,
and hugging children,
keep watering plants,
eating chocolate and kale,
drinking coffee in the morning,
texting old friends,
buying my husband socks,
making sure my kids eat vegetables
and practice the piano.
to love
my breath
my heartbeat
my skin
my voice
everything
that makes me
alive.
