How you prove your love to yourself? If another was to know exactly how you treat yourself would they think…there is a person in love? This is the question I ask myself when I think of how I treat myself. And this is the answer I have discovered.

Let us, borrowing from the words of Elizabeth Barrett Browning, count the ways we love ourselves. While she was a poet who has inspired humans since the 19th century I was thinking more about self-love, for if I cannot love myself then I have nothing to offer another when it comes to love.

I am not talking about adoration. I am talking about when you make a mistake in your life what happens? Do you forgive yourself, tell yourself that everyone makes mistakes, encourage yourself to do it over and make a better choice? I hope so, because that is what love looks like.

I am not talking about vanity. I am talking about complimenting yourself on taking care of the body you inhabit. I make it a habit to appreciate and accept compliments, from myself as well as from others whose paths I cross and share a compliment with me. I think it is important to start each day with an appreciation for putting in the effort to look my best. My mother taught me this and it is one of the greatest gifts she gave me.

I am not talking about pride. I did not create Brad, the Universe did that. I only shape him and work to improve him so that he/I will best the best version of myself. I do this mostly by being grateful. Grateful for this thing called life. Grateful for the family, friends and friendly strangers with whom I share it. Grateful to have the time to write this love letter to my future self and to all of you who choose to read it.