Page 10 - August 2023 CW Magazine

I Love Myself, I Love My Soul
I L o v e M y s e l f , I L o v e M y S o u l

By Diana Hooker

As I sat on the chair in the hallway outside the bathroom watching my mom get ready, I admired
how beautiful she was. Her long dark hair framing her face with her high cheek bones, catlike
green eyes and a contagious smile. She wore a trendy turquoise-blue jumpsuit with bell bottom
legs that hung to her curves and flowed nicely as she danced to the music playing from the
bedroom stereo.

I opened the closet door next me so I could look at myself in the mirror. My messy short blonde
hair was out of control. I hated the ugly wart next to my eye and I did not like my smile. And even
though I loved the dresses my grandmother made for me, they were not like the trendy jumpsuit
my mom wore. I wish I was as beautiful as my mom.

I must have said that out loud, because my mom moved away from the vanity in the bathroom to
walk over to me, lifted my chin and look into my eyes. Her eyes gleamed with a warm smile as she
said,
I love myself
I love my soul

I took myself to a picture show
I put my arm around my waist
I got so fresh
I slapped my face.

We both laughed. I gave my mom a hug as I closed the closet door. Then I went outside thinking
about the rhyme she had just shared. As a five-year old, I thought it was funny and really did not
think beyond the funny words. I grabbed my jump rope and started skipping and chanting to the
rhythm, “I love myself. I love my soul. I love myself. I love my soul.

Now fifty years later, I’m still thinking about that poem and how perfect it relates to self-care and
self-love. In the fast-paced world of today, we need to look in the mirror and be reminded to love
ourselves, to love our souls and to treat ourselves to things that embody nurturing our physical,
emotional and mental health.

Through my life journey, I have discovered the most important step of self-love has been to
recognize the need to accept and value me, acknowledge my worth, and treat myself with
compassion. Instead of looking at my reflection and finding all my flaws, I need to look deeper
within and embrace who I am with acceptance and love. With this awareness, I was able to
explore numerous empowering ways of self-care and self-love and the profound impact.
Continued on Page 12

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