The times when I am the happiest
are the times when I am giving love
and receiving love
from others.
Staring at a lover in the eyes,
resting a hand on a friend,
playing instruments in a jam session,
sitting around a fire together,
sharing a secret with someone.
I feel complete by myself,
but even more fulfilled when I give love away.
And the more I give,
the more I receive.
It’s a cycle of love.
Maybe that’s why many of us
are afraid to be alone
because love is often an external form,
and we don’t know how to give ourselves the same love.
But we can actually give ourselves as much love
as we give anybody else,
and even more.
I can tell myself I’m beautiful
every time I look in the mirror.
Every time I eat,
I’m nurturing myself.
Every time I sleep,
I’m healing myself.
Every time I let things go,
I’m making my mind lighter.
Every time I exercise,
I’m taking care of my body.
I can look at myself in the eyes
the way I would look at a lover.
I can rub my shoulder
just as I would rub a friend’s.
We don’t need permission to give ourselves love.
We do not need to earn it.
Since we all have the right to enjoy life
just by being on this earth,
we then have the right to enjoy
and love
our earthly bodies
and the souls housed inside of them.
If we feel most full when we give others love,
why not give it to ourselves too?
Ali Walks Around 