The Most Important Lesson I Have Learned

By Martha MacFarland

When you look up synonyms for self-love

You get a variety of negative connotations: 

Vanity, conceit, ego, even big head

Yet the concept of self-love is the most important life lesson 

That I have learned

Years come and go

Life lessons make their mark

But one remains the most important of them all

Without this lesson

Nothing else matters

I am not talking about Narcissus 

Who fell in love with his own reflection and perished

I am not talking about Freud’s impulsive id 

Or the critical superego, or the negotiating ego to manage the two

I am not talking about the hero’s hubris that ultimately led to his downfall

Instead….

I am talking about the self-nourisher of the soul

I am talking about conquering the self through compassion

I am talking about the state of truly appreciating the self, 

My individual self

Through every flaw, loss, imperfection, and fear

Through every scar that left me wounded in some way.

I look in the mirror, to see my reflection and genuinely say,

 I love you. 

  I love being you.

 I love every ounce that God created.

My goal is to fall in love with you over and over again.

So that I can see how my divinity sees me.

For then, I can understand the truth about myself and others.

That we are all one beautiful creation.

Innately perfect in our humanness with every imperfection.

Living in the duality of life.

For  all is sacred.

For all is interconnected.

For all can awaken to this awareness of love

Because if I can love myself truly unmasked

Then, I can truly love others unmasked

Seeing each other as sources of energy and light.

And an inner voice whispers to me as I look at the light illuminating my eyes. 

Breathe.

And breathe again. 

Smile. 

Relax.

Laugh.

Embrace being.

Let go.

But most importantly,

Love. 

For life is only one step at a time.

Only one present moment.

Not in the past or the future.

Just now. 

And I discern the truth of life,

 That love only really flourishes when I accept my own self-love first.