The Greatest Love of All.

I decided long ago,
never to walk in anyone's shadows

If I fail, if I succeed

At least I'll live as I believe

No matter what they take from me

They can't take away my dignity

Because the greatest love of all

Is happening to me

I found the greatest love of all

Inside of me

The greatest love of all

Is easy to achieve

Learning to love yourself

It is the greatest love of all

When I was a child, stripped from all the so called wisdom I've had gathered through the years, I've always thought that the song was selfish.  And surely it didn't convince me, no.  The greatest love of all couldn't possibly be loving yourself.  What about the love of Christ or the love of a parent to their child.  Surely, that should be the greatest love right?

As I age, and now I'm nearing my 30's, I've slowly came to understand why self love could be, and most likely be the greatest love of all.

In my younger years I've always seek validation from others and from things as to who I am and what defines me, when it's not supposed to be the case.  Defining yourself supposed to come from inside.  You define who you are base on the habits, values and principles you have acquired though time.  And these fundamental elements in your character gives you a sort of security that validation from others, or any material possession wouldn't be anymore needed.  You feel whole and complete, even when others are bringing you down, or even when you are in lack of luxury.

And that the only way for you to bring in that sort of security is for you to really actually have integrity and a sense of purpose in life.  Integrity in the way you live and how you treat others.  If you're full of honestly, humility and justice on tackling all life's circumstances.  All these, while moving forward in your life's mission.  If you got these in your basket, then you wouldn't falter quite easily.  

And even before going through all these, it is with conscious decision on choosing what's good for yourself is a manifestation of self love.  You start picking options that your future self would thank you for.  And you choose these because you have learned to love yourself better.  To be a bit kinder to yourself, to forgive yourself more often this time.  

You choose to decide to move more after being in weeks and weeks of sedentary lifestyle.  

You choose to do that activity that you've always wanted all along, even when you don't exactly know the reason why, but somehow life wouldn't seem to push forward without that thing over with - you choose to set a schedule to finally do it.  

You choose to pray more and be more still in spirit after you observe yourself easily feeling weak and worried when life is throwing in the punches.  

You choose to stand your ground on whatever standards you have set for your future partner, and not settle for a momentary fling with the wrong person because you just desire to feel wanted and love. 

You choose your dream life over a secured clean cut life your parents have planned for you.  

You choose good friends who lifts you up than the ones who brings you down with them, 

You choose to see the lessons than the drama, get the treasure and be done with the emotional side of it,  You have gone through a lot of BS, you don't want to get anymore of it.  

You choose a life that you can live for yourself and others than just a life with a work and sleep and play cycle. 

You choose to be you because there's no other way to be than choosing to be like someone you're not. You choose to love and let love than to hate.  

You choose you, because aren't you the greatest possession you can possibly have?

Lyrics from http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/whitneyhouston/greatestloveofall.html

Picture from http://kleopatralove.com/2013/02/14/this-valentines-day-remember-to-love-yourself/