Like most college students, I often feel I am carrying the weight of the world in my backpack: human anatomy, calculus, Hemingway, and American history, so much that I forget about the world within myself. Unfortunately, not only does school pull me away from myself, but so does the media, social networking, socializing in general, Netflix, working, and other responsibilities that I feel obliged to do in my early twenties. I find this unusual because I go to school and focus on other obligations to better myself, right? However, while I am in the process of self-improvement and finding myself, so I can love who I am, I find that I am actually losing touch with the inner, deeper me, the me that only I can understand. This is because my thoughts begin to focus on distractions, such as deadlines, papers, exams, social events, and paying bills. I have lost focus on the main reason why I started all these responsibilities, which is that I love myself, therefore from now on, I am going to actually start doing what’s best for me.
Since I become too overwhelmed or stressed with the mundane and robotic-like obstacles, I feel I am practicing less of self-love and more of time management and on how to be a good test-taker. While these are great skills to have, self-love is the most important. After all, no matter how many excellent skills, accomplishments, or paychecks I obtain, I’ll still feel I need more because I don’t have enough love for myself. Thus, I decided to dig up my old hobbies that had once brought me true self-fulfillment; hobbies that don’t involve receiving a high GPA. These include hiking, baking, and photography, all of which have helped me rekindle the bridge to myself.
Time for self-love is immensely valuable, and I have learned what no textbook or professor could teach me: there is no need to worry, for everything will always fall into place. There is no need to carry pain and hate, for it does more damage to the heart than anything else. And lastly, love the life you live and the people who love you, for Love truly heals the soul. What could possibly mean more than that?
So to anyone who is doubting your self-worth, to anyone who thinks that looking like a supermodel is the only way to be pretty, or who feels they do not have it all together, you have the answers inside of you. As long as you make time and create a relationship with yourself, I guarantee you will find your answers. So pick up your old hobbies, start a new one, or buy a new journal for writing out your deepest thoughts. Do whatever it takes to find your own bridge towards self-love. Do anything that will help nourish your inner-self and lead you to a life of Love. Don’t let the world keep you away from the most precious gem in your life, which is you.