Goodness

The best of intentions can't change reality and the hardest part of reality can be the knowledge that I must learn to live with and love myself if I have any hope for peace, happiness, or contentment at all.

I think I have been in this place for some time now, but it is a hard concept to explain to anyone else. Most of childhood is spent learning to control ourselves, ignoring our most basic wants because they interfere with what our world considers civilized. We teach children to reach out, to share, to be philanthropic, but we seldom teach them to truly honor and respect themselves.

It is difficult to make compelling movies and stories for the average person about discovering one's own self worth. Long ago, when a boy grew up to be what his father was, or a girl knew what was expected of her, it might have been easier, but I suspect even those times had their own demons.

How often does a parent tell a child what he needs to do, or to change? How often does that same parent tell that same child what he is doing right, or what is uniquely beautiful about him? We learn how to spot our weaknesses, but it doesn't even occur to most of us to look for our goodness.

Goodness is a complicated thing. It's not just doing good things. It's not necessarily being obedient. It is possible to be a total failure in the ways of the world and still be a very good person. You can be financially poor, physically ill, homeless, jobless, even dirty and be good, truly good! Discovering this is a step onto the road to self-love. It's a big step for many of us, but it is doable.

Whether you love yourself because God made you and "God don't make no junk," or because you are a child of light, or simply because you are a child of man, or woman, doesn't matter. However you find a way to get some part of you on the road to this discovery is okay. In fact, it is imperative if you hope to make the most out of your life.

Loving yourself is like putting on magical glasses. It makes others so much easier to love.

And that makes life easier.