This has been one hell of a year. There have been laughs and opportunities. There have been tears and stumbles. But, when I look back at this time, when I am old and grey, I will say “that is the year that I learnt to love myself”.

Don’t get me wrong, I ain’t god’s gift. As much as I have changed, in many ways I haven’t. I still say dumb shit. I still make mistakes. I still get irrationally mad (mostly when I’m hungry), but who doesn’t? That is the nature of being a human being. I have learnt that achieving perfection in everything you say or do, isn’t what will make you feel worthy of love, because…

1. Perfection is impossible. So, do yourself a favour, and get that ridiculous expectation out of your head. You are not perfect, and neither is anybody else.
2. My dog is the exception to that.
3. You don’t have to be “perfect”, to be “enough”. You are unique, and that is so much more magical than being perfect.

Now admit it, being magical is way cooler than being perfect! I’d choose to be a mother fucking sorcerer, over some faultless robot any day.

The truth is, that these realisations are not enough to snap you into loving yourself. It can be a painful, confronting process. It is not always an upward slope. You can go from skipping in a meadow with daisies in your hair level happy, to hiding under your duvet with pizza in your hair level hopeless.

If you really want to love yourself, know that it’s not going to suddenly happen, by putting on a face mask and drinking a green smoothie. Just like you would work your socks off to become a doctor, you’ve got to work hard, be committed and dedicate yourself to achieving self-love. And, do this every day for the rest of your life.

That sounds like a lot of effort right? Well, I can tell you now, that you are worth that effort.

Do the work. Be kind to yourself. Meditate, practice gratitude, find what lights you up and do it every day.

Devote yourself, to loving yourself. Then, watch yourself and the world transform.