During my daily analytic check of my blog, I learned a few people viewed a post I wrote about Valentine’s day in 2017, Valentine’s Day…Bah humbug. I reread the post and—in spite of the punctuation errors—I am still pretty proud of the words I wrote. It is four years later and I’ve continued to believe and promote the importance of self-love. Additionally, I am even more proud to say I’ve opened my mind to dating again—miracles still happen.
A year ago, I had a completely different mindset. I was living in a bubble of fear and doubt. I maneuvered through each day trying to mask feelings of anxiety. I longed for peace and a calm spirit. In retrospect, I realize I was not fully demonstrating self-love.
When I think of the word love, several things come to my mind. But a familiar Bible verse is what is at the forefront of my mind.
“Love is patient, love is kind, it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. “
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 NIV
I failed to protect and trust myself. I allowed outside influences to plant thoughts and feelings of fear and doubt. And instead of operating in love, I chose to live in consternation. But now I choose to embrace peace and love regardless of what happens around me. Which reminds me of another familiar scripture.
“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”
Galatians 5:1 KJV
As always, it is my desire to encourage you to love yourself unconditionally as God intended today and every day. Things may not be going the way you thought or planned, but I want to motivate you to exercise self-love in spite of it. Continue to protect your mind from negativity, trust your abilities, and hope in your present and future. And most of all, persevere.
Happy Valentine’s day from me to you!
Until the next time be you—and more importantly—love you.
Being uniquely you is being uniquely beautiful.
-B.B. 💋
