Like, as a person who has had seasons when I’ve HATED myself, it felt like an insult because I felt like I could love and make others feel loved

Eventually I realized that when I don’t love myself, I love in ways that aren’t healthy or pure. I might show love as a distraction from my pain. Or love with hopes of getting love in return. Or I might love just so i could feel something because on my own I felt nothing

Now because I love myself, I can love just for loves sake. Wanting nothing, needing nothing. I’ve taken to doing random things like sending letters or care packages to people for no reason, just to let them know I love them.

So it’s really that you cannot love fully and richly when you don’t love yourself. You can perform love. That’s not the same as loving

Lotus Harvesters of Manipur, Loktak Lake

Ashik aseem | India wrote : Lotus harvesters of Manipur: Loktak lake is India’s largest fresh water lake and is rich in vegetation. Here is an evening visual of a local lady harvesting Lotus flowers from the lake to sell in the market. #ashikaseem - May 2022

Moroccan Rose is one of the most fragrant varieties of the Damask Rose, which originated in Damascus, Syria - Fotopedia Magazine