Personally, I prefer to believe
that every experience
carries the possibility
of creating or catalyzing
change in our lives, positively.
Even lessons
can be blessings,
if we let them—you see?
But I digress—
because the prompt for this poem
didn’t ask me about my life philosophy—it asked: what are some experiences
that have impacted your life positively?
It was difficult, but I narrowed it down to three…
ONE:
The day my daughter was born,
I began to know love truly.
That’s not to say that I was ever
unloved—but at eighteen, the love of
my parents sometimes seemed as if
it came with conditions.
But real love never comes
with conditions—and I was
beginning to understand
what unconditional love
truly meant.
When her Hazel eyes met mine, for
the first time, I knew, I felt it:
I am alive, and I am loved,
and I am loving,
and I am love.
She made me realize
that no matter what happens in life—
love is always enough.
TWO:
The day my son was born,
I began learning how to love myself.
I’d come face to face with my
then-perceived failures and flaws—
and began to forgive me—
the day my son was born.
His bright son-light brought
to me an awareness of
my own beauty—both inside
and out. He brought new meaning
to my life—reminded me of
the joy found in the journey
—and love.
Through his eyes, I had a Chance
to see myself as I truly am:
sacred, divine, and beyond
deserving of the love I give
to everyone else.
He helped me change
how I see myself.
THREE:
The day I married my husband,
it felt like the first day of the rest of my life.
After all the angst and hurt
and heartbreak of adolescence
and my early adulthood—I told myself,
I’d never want to be a wife. I thought
it’d be preferable to protect my heart
with walls of steel—but he saw me
though my pretend-hardness,
showed me a love that is true and real.
Love—as romanticized in film—
should feel always like sunshine
and rainbows, no? But that’s not
the way it always goes…
Real love gives you
a reason to remember
who you truly are—even when
you feel so far from yourself.
True love is like holding up
a mirror. We must
make peace with the hurt person
inside of ourselves—we heal,
so we don’t hurt each other.
We adventure on journeys
through the self,
alongside one another.
And when we align
our hopes and desires
with the power of our love—
truly majestic experiences transpire.
EPILOGUE:
I suppose I could sum all this up
by saying that the best thing
that’s ever happened for me is love—
but I don’t believe that simple description
is truly distinctive enough.
My daughter taught me to love others
and to let love in; my son taught me
to love myself and find my joy again;
my husband taught me to trust, and to see
that every ideal interaction starts with inner peace.
I am writing to remind you that the way you love yourself—is also the way you allow others to love you as well. I am writing to remind you that loving yourself means more than simply loving the parts that you are most proud of.
It is peeling back the perceptions, misconceptions, and projections. It is loving past, present and future you; all the varied iterations beloved anew. It is gazing longingly within. It is lifting the veil—accepting and releasing all you’ve been: the monsters and angels both.
It is forgiveness for not always being the very best version of yourself, allowing even you to make mistakes. It is making peace with yourself so you can be at peace with other people. It is pure inner G/energy.
It is preemptively setting the stage each day—via your preferred method of attaining your most aware state—so that your focus is maintained on fun and play—simply because you deserve to feel good. Allowing each day to be dimpled with love and laughter as each could.
It is being capable of keeping commitments to yourself. Where self compassion and self actualization meet, love is an endless well. The more that you pour into yourself, the more you become a living self love spell. Such great love can only expand to reach everyone else.
I am writing to remember that the way I love myself is also the way I allow others to love me as well. I am writing to remember that loving myself means more than simply loving the parts that I am most proud of.
Dear Dominique,
What positive, encouraging words you have written. I love the message to love all of yourself not just the parts you are most proyd of. I hope you continue your journey of positivity.
I agree with @dommamomma This is sooooo good! And the picture matches the poem so perfectly. I love this line “Sheer focus aimed ahead; No more playing dead.” And the ending was amazing. This is a really good piece Jonathan! It’s art! Thank you for sharing and thank you for being you! <3 Lauren
In 2024, I am believing in myself more—
feeling better than before,
with steady faith to stay the course.
Keeping commitments—despite conditions
—to what I truly care about;
keeping clarity of focus on the vision,
leaving no room for doubt.
I am stabilizing my foundation,
standing firm in what I know to be true.
I am focused on full self adoration—
to see myself the way my loved ones do.
I am acknowledging and appreciating
all of my accomplishments,
as I paint the path—concentrating,
maintaining my confidence.
I can promise me, from this point on,
whatever I do, I will do it purposely.
When I feel low, I’ll sing self love songs
with relief, and remember the worth in me…
because, in 2024, I am leaning toward
feeling better than before—
moving forever forward.
“I am acknowledging and appreciating
all of my accomplishments,
as I paint the path—concentrating,
maintaining my confidence.”
Love that part. Hold your head up high and go do you, and be you! Stand proud of what you have already achieved and pursue confidently all the things you want in life. You are a star. A…read more