Have you ever cared for or even loved someone that didn’t reciprocate it? It’s not a good feeling.

While I was dressing for work this past Thursday morning I thought about the song “How to Love” by Lil Wayne. If you haven’t heard it I encourage you to check it out – it’s a great song. When I heard this song in 2011 I connected with the words in relation to my love life. As I stated last week, I made the mistake of not being myself which, crippled me from having more fulfilling relationships. But, as I listened to the song five years later, I heard more. Now I hear the need to learn how to love self.

One of the definitions of love, according to Merriam-Webster, is an unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another. Even though I accept the above definition, I want to shake it up a little bit and direct it toward self.

Let’s think about our beings and what our bodies are capable of doing. All of the things we do on a daily basis that I admit I’ve taken for granted from time to time. I see the fact that I can think, hear, see, speak, walk or sit at will as an act of love from my being. My body has demonstrated loyalty that was not always reciprocated. I owe myself love simply because I exist. And if I am willing to freely give unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another – how dare I not give it to Towanda first.

Each day that I am blessed to see, I am learning how to love myself more.  Every time I allow myself to be who I am unapologetically, the better I feel, which makes me feel beautiful inside and out.

No more unrequited love. Let’s love on ourselves every day – with a kind word and a smile as you say I love you!

-B.B.