Each month, a member of the board will share a reflection on the Soul Matters monthly theme. The theme for February is Love. This month’s post is offered by Shelley Buss.
Turning away from the concept of love that’s referenced around 98.97% of the time, I want to share a few thoughts on what I think is the hardest kind of love to understand and learn: loving yourself. It’s a pretty simply concept really. Recognize yourself as the #1 person in your life, and treat yourself with priority. But here’s where I think the rub comes in. In order to love yourself, you need to know yourself and be comfortable with that person. As I parent I try my darnedest to be mindful of what I’m teaching and modeling to my kids. Parents, extended family, teachers, and neighbors all silently imprint children with their beliefs and value systems. Our kids become sponges of their environment. So thinking back on your own life, when or how did you decide who you really are, and do you love that person today? Continue reading →