I found that anguish

and emotional suffering

are only warning signs

that I was living against my own truth.

Today I know

this is authenticity.

As I began to love myself

I understood how much it can offend somebody

as I try to force my desires on this person

even though I knew the time was not right

person was not ready for it

and even though

this person was me.

Today I call it respect.

As I began to love myself

I stopped craving for a different life

and I could see that everything that surrounded me

was inviting me to grow.

Today I call it maturity.

As I began to love myself

I understood that at any circumstance,

I am in the right place,

at the right time,

and everything happens at the exactly right moment, so I could be calm.

Today I call it self-confidence.

As I began to love myself

I quit stealing my own time

and I stopped designing huge projects for the future.

Today I only do what brings me joy and happiness, things i love to do

and that make my heart cheer,

and I do them in my own way and in my own rhythm.

Today I call it simplicity.

As I began to love myself.

I freed myself of anything

that is no good for my health -

food, people, things, situations

and everything that drew me down and away from myself.

At first I called this attitude a healthy egoism. Today I know it is love of oneself.

As I began to love myself

I quit trying to always be right,

and ever since

I was wrong less of the time.

Today I discovered

that is modesty.

As i began to love myself

I refused to go on living in the past and worry about the future.

Now, I only live for the moment, where everything is happening.

Today I live each day,

day by day,

and I call it fulfillment.

As I began to love myself

I recognized that my mind can disturb me

and it can make me sick.

But as I connected it to my heart,

my mind became a valuable ally.

Today i call this connection

wisdom of the heart.

We no longer need to fear arguments confrontations or any kind of problems

with ourselves or others.

Even stars collide,

and out of their crashing

new worlds are born.

Today I know

THAT IS LIFE.