Discovering Self-Love

Author bell hooks once wrote, “When we can see ourselves as we truly are and accept ourselves, we build the necessary foundation for self-love…” Part of my reasons for starting a blog is to relay and amplify messages from daughters far and wide. The following poem about self-love was written by the talented and beautiful LaShay Shorter. Peep her words:

Love Thyself by Lala

I stopped looking for love 

when I noticed love wasn't looking for me…

Love didn't care that I cried 

Or died deep inside 

From the hurt it implied 

You see love never lived here 

It came to visit but it couldn't stay. 

I tried to lay 

My life on the line for love 

But love didn't care 

‘Cause deep down inside love knew 

I wasn't true to it. 

It was a temporary fix 

It was just there to fill a void 

A hole 

A missing peace to the puzzle 

That was me. 

Love could never love me 

Until I loved myself 

No matter the crave I had for it. 

I wanted it to pour into me 

Until I overflowed 

But it just leaked out the hole 

Until I fixed that crack in me. 

I had to love me 

I had to appreciate me 

And know that if love ever left me 

I would still be whole 

I would still be me 

Nothing more and nothing less.

Nothing more. Nothing less. Thank you Lala for sharing such a beautiful reminder that love begins with us. Radical self-love happens when we love ourselves no matter who shows up. This poem speaks to the heart of that and I am grateful for it. How have you experienced self-love?