When I wrote What I See is Love, I wanted children to see love all around them—in their families, friendships, and the everyday moments that make life special.
Let’s face it—life is hard, and sometimes we (young or old) need a little reassurance that everything will be okay. Lately, I’ve been reflecting and realized there’s nothing more challenging than looking in the mirror and not being happy with the person staring back at you and I hated the person looking back at me.
After reading my book to a group of lower school students and listening to their definitions of love and kindness, I couldn’t shake with what felt like was me being hypocritical. I had been beating myself up with negative thoughts, unhealthy eating and drinking habits, and, quite frankly, a lack of loving myself.
They say God speaks in whispers until He throws a boulder—well, that boulder fell hard. I listened to a podcast where the guest speaker posed a powerful question: What is the body you want to walk into a room with? She shared how, after her mother passed away, she watched as they wheeled her body away. That was it. The body no longer represented her mother—it was simply a vessel that had carried her through life but also held the essence of who she once was.
Ugh , talk about punch in the gut. This body we’ve been given is just that—a vessel. And it deserves to be nourished with love. So I thought, what if we looked at ourselves with the same love, compassion, grace, and kindness as these little children?
Loving Myself Enough to Prioritize My Health
This year, I made a commitment: to embrace the body I was given—not by settling, but by taking care of it in a good way. That means moving my body, not shrinking it (no more obsessing over the scale) but strengthening it. It means nourishing myself in a way that fuels me, not deprives me. It also means making choices—like cutting back on drinking—not out of restriction but out of love for my health and clarity. I used to think self-love was about learning to accept myself, but I’m realizing it’s about CARING for myself. It’s about understanding boundaries, being comfortable with "no" as a full sentence, and refraining from speaking about myself or my body in a derogatory way. Caring= knowing and treating my body and mind the way I want my children to treat theirs—with kindness, patience, and gratitude.
What My Book Taught Me About Self-Love
When I read What I See is Love to children, I saw their eyes light up as they recognized the love in their lives. And I wondered—why is it so easy for us to see love in others but so hard to see it in ourselves? When does the unconditional love children show turn into the self-doubt and negativity that so many adults carry? I want to change that. I want to see myself the way my children see me—with love, warmth, and admiration. I want to treat my body with the same care I hope they will treat theirs. And I want to live in a way that reflects the message of my book: that love is all around us—including in the way we see and love ourselves.
What About You?
I’d love to hear from you—what’s one way you can show love to yourself this week? Maybe it’s rest, movement, nourishing food, or simply speaking to yourself with kindness.
Let’s love the person that is staring back at us in that mirror!
Let me know in the comments or send me a message—I’d love to connect!
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