Learning to Be My Own Friend

Sometimes the hardest relationship to nurture is the one we have with ourselves. I’ve always known how to care for others but learning to care for myself has taken a lifetime. This is a small piece about rediscovering self-kindness, healing old wounds, and learning to be my own friend.

Learning to Be My Own Friend

My first friends growing up were my stuffed animals and pets. They were safe, and I was free to be me without any judgments. I made sure to be gentle, treat them with kindness, and show respect.

But I was never a friend to myself.

I was kind to others, yet my inner voice was sharp and filled with malice. It shaped me into someone insecure, nervous, and quietly depressed. Glowing at times on the outside, aching on the inside.

Ever since I was little, I would try on different hats to find which one would fit. But I was judged and put on trial…

This one isn’t you.

This one you’re obsessed with.

This one is too much.

It wasn’t until motherhood that I began to see things differently.

Everything is temporary.

My everything can be temporary.

So being present is a must.

Now, that little girl inside me,  the one I once silenced… is stepping back into the light. She’s learning to love herself all over again… and she’s not afraid to try on her hats or keep talking to animals.

If the good is temporary, then so is the bad.

The best way to get through is to simply be present.