It’s hard to come up with reasons to love myself
The mean words get stuck on my shelf
But for this prompt, I will give it a try
Dear self, I love the way you look at the sky
When you see a sunset, bird, or plane
And the music you listen to on the train
Thank you for being my constant number one
For letting me relax with friends and have fun
I love that you’re so funny
And just as sweet as honey
I love that you have so many passions
And have a true taste for fashions
I love your poems, writing, and art
Why do you think you’re not smart?
I love your blue eyes, little glasses, and curly hair
So there is no need to compare
Yourself to girls who have a boyfriend or seem outgoing
Know that you yourself will always be glowing
And when the right time comes, you’ll find one too
So there is no need to be blue
See, it’s not that hard to love yourself
Can you try to keep these words on your shelf?

“To Love Herself”

For years and years, you’ve walked this earth, blue eyes taking in the sites.
What have you seen, what have you learned?
Oh little girl, are you concerned?
For years and years, and many more years you’ll grow, shine, and love.

Forevermore, if there is an ever more,
You wander toward your goals, with patience and ease.
Gliding through, envy, and things that have destroyed you.

Little girl, grown up to be a woman, forced into womanhood too young.
What have they done… How 25 treats you and your blue eyes…
It is like the sun met the moon.
Confident, creative, and sometimes crude.

Your life is why I love you.

Warrior, you have been battling for 913 days
Radiation, surgeries, chemo times two
Just breathe
Mama, you persevere through the tired and the pain
Your girls admire your strength and grit
Just Breathe
Daughter, your family, chosen and blood, surround you with their love
Although it is difficult to watch them experience this madness along with you,
Just Breathe
Lisa, your faith is strong and this battle has been too long
Yet wake each day and smile
your positivity is contagious and your courage is that of a true warrior
Just Breathe

I am learning to love you.
I am learning to love your smile and the way your chubby cheeks make your eyes chinky.
I am learning to love the extra curves around your hips and waist.
I am learning to love your deep and rich skin tone and coily hair.
I am learning to love you because you deserved to be loved.
You deserve to be loved in a way that tailors to all of your love languages.
You deserve to to be loved because your first priority is the needs of others.
You deserve to be loved even when you don’t feel worthy.
Even when you don’t feel worthy I promise to never abandon you.
Even when you don’t feel worthy I will still speak to you like a queen.
Even when you don’t feel worthy I will learn to love you.
Because I love you.

The reasons why
By Nahomie Nicole

In a world so busy
In a world sometimes cold
In a world often isolated
Your love for you, shines through for you
You matter to you
You get up for you
You fight for you
You give up on you
When you realize it
You rise for you
You’re your biggest enemy
Your biggest downfall
Your biggest competition
Through it all, you matter to you
You know, no one has your back like you do
You wish the world had more like you
Solid, capable, intelligent, so beautifully designed
It gets no better than you.
In a world so busy
In a world sometimes cold
In a world often isolated
You love you
This is why you love yourself
So continue fighting for you
Continue rooting for you
Continue shining through
And say to you
These are the reasons why

Your pages are torn and shredded yet the story inside is so compelling.
It’s one you can’t put down, as you anticipate what’s to come.
You’ve been handled so rough but your binding stays unharmed.
You mustered up courage to survive the harsh storms.
You who was once closed off and unable to share the contents inside.
Has now become my favorite novel full of surprises.
You were afraid of the world and pressures of life.
Now you embrace the challenge with a smile so bright.
The story of you is no longer hidden.
You learned to love wide open, unafraid of what’s written.
You ignore the corrections made by critics.
As you are the author of this life and of you.

Self love
What is self love?
Self love is:
Loving yourself
Appreciating yourself
Growth
Happiness
Accepting
Well-being
Self love
It’s different
For everyone

I’ve struggled
With self love
With loving myself
With accepting myself
My whole life
It’s been a journey
Finding myself again

I’ve been
Made fun of
Teased
Bullied
For how I look
For my size
For the scars
On my body

You’re so small
How tall are you?
What size shoe do you wear?
You’re so small
You’re head is a hand rest
I could shove you
In my pocket
You’re a midget
Pint-sized
A shrimp
Kids are taller than you
What’s with all the scars?
Why do you have them?
Look at her tummy?
It’s all messed up
She’s got two belly buttons
Look at her neck?
She’s got a hole in it

Kids are mean
Kids are bullies
Kids are cruel
Kids don’t understand
Becoming the girl with the tummy scars
Becoming the girl with the hole in her neck
Becoming the small girl with tiny feet

I was embarrassed
By my scars
But I know now
They show strength
They show I survived
They show I lived
Despite the odds
Despite the complications
The multiple surgeries
I endured as a baby

I wished my feet were bigger
To fit into real women’s shoes
But now I don’t mind
Having small feet
I can fit into kids shoes
Finding shoes for cheap
I still can fit into women’s shoes
If I’m looking for something fancy

I always wished I was taller
Like it wasn’t fair
The tall gene skipped me
Like why?
But I have expected my size
I can fit into kids clothes
For cheaper
I can still find lots of cute things
In smaller sizes
I can fit anywhere
I can push my way
Up to the front of concerts
I’ve Learned to climb
Things with ease
To reach high things
I’m not small
I’m fun size

So yeah
It took awhile
To find myself again
To love my self again
To accept my self again
To love my body again
To accept my flaws
To love my flaws

I’m still learning everyday
To love myself
To accept myself
To love my body
Scars, flaws and all
Some days are better than others
But I’m no where near where
I was before

To the girl whose always given others love,
It’s time you put yourself above.

You’ve always had to care for others,
so this year, love yourself a little harder.

Love your laugh, your smile, & the way that you glow.
Love yourself enough to tell other people “no.”

You are brightness, you are love, you are more than you think.
You are creative, you are clever, you are the missing link.

You’ve cried for nights & been through hurt,
You’ve been through fights, your name dragged through dirt.

Love yourself enough to heal & be better.
Know that along the way you may ruffle some feathers.

Love yourself enough to always protect your mind,
Love yourself enough to remember to be kind.

Even when people aren’t very kind to you,
Do it cause you know it’s the right thing to do.

You’re empathetic, loving, and deserve all the wealth,
So this year, remember to live for yourself.