Love Yourself

"Later that day I got to thinking about relationships. There are those that open you up to something new and exotic, those that are old and familiar, those that bring up lots of questions, those that bring you somewhere unexpected, those that bring you far from where you started, and those that bring you back. But the most exciting, challenging and significant relationship of all is the one you have with yourself. And if you can find someone to love the you, you love, well, that's just fabulous." --- Sex and the City

I've heard time and time again that you have to love yourself before you can love another. The other day, a student had a long list of things she was planning on doing right out of high school. I admire her ambition, especially as she talked about wanting to establish herself before starting a family. People are getting married and starting families much later in life. As a single person, I find comfort in this, knowing I am on a similar path to those around me. 

The older generations have a hard time grasping this change. They are unsure as to why so many young adults are focused on careers and traveling rather than planning weddings and burping babies. After I read this quote from Sex and the City, I realized that one of the greatest reasons young people are waiting is because they want to be secure with themselves. I would rather be single than in a relationship that wasn't right. Somethings take time, and building a relationship with ourselves is a work in progress. We are continually learning to take care for ourselves, love ourselves for who we are, not who we would like to be. 

Our worst critic will forever be ourselves; however, taking time to grow as a person and accept ourselves for who we are and where we are in life is important for not only ourselves, but those we encounter each day.