DO YOU LOVE YOURSELF?

I am sure the above title caught the attention of many a curious mind.

Seriously, how many of us have stopped to think about this question? We love so many people in our lives, grandparents, parents, spouses, children, relatives, friends, teachers and pets, but how much importance do we give ourselves.

We are compelled to do the things we do out of a sense of responsibility, or love, sometimes both, or sometimes, just to maintain home peace.

For many of us, so caught up in doing what is right, what our parents instilled in us about putting family before everything else, we have as women, lost ourselves, our identity, our individuality.

But there comes a time when we need to stop for a moment, not only to recharge our batteries, but to assess ourselves and question our purpose in life.

It is wonderful if your happiness lies in doing what makes your family happy and blessed are those, who share a close bond within the family.

But is that really enough? Did you stop to ponder and ask yourself, what about me, my dreams and aspirations?  I am human, I am important. What about my needs?

There came a point in my life, when I asked myself these questions and realised that I had to find time for myself, to do the things that I love, things that I need, to nurture my mind, my body and soul.

This new found realisation brought much needed change in my life. 

That is when I started focusing on giving myself some much needed ‘me’ time. I loved the solitude of long walks by the lake, wired to my IPod. I made a conscious effort to go for a variety of exercise classes. 

I met up with friends for some fun ‘girls night’ out. I treated myself to the occasional spa treatments and suddenly the child in me was alive once again, happy, cheerful and loving herself.

I have finally learnt to find a balance between doing what I have to do for others and what I want to do for myself. It has led to the discovery of finding the inner child once again who had seemingly lost herself amidst mundane routine of daily living.

Even more important is the realisation that despite all my shortcomings, knowing full well that there is room for improvement and that it is a work in progress, I love myself.

In all honesty, while it is a wonderful feeling to know that those you love dearly, love you just as much, yet nothing surpasses the sense of self- worth you feel, realising how much you love yourself.

So here's my question to you once again, do you love yourself?