In Others’ Words: The Value of Befriending Yourself

How good a friend are you — with yourself?

If someone had asked me that question years ago, I’d have to confess to being a fair weather friend to myself. I hung around me when things were going well — when I could stamp “approved” on my forehead or slap a gold star on my efforts. But when the going got tough and I didn’t handle things well? I was as good as gone.

And when I did hang around myself? Well, I didn’t treat myself very nicely. My self-talk was usually something like “Oh. My. Word. Just don’t embarrass yourself. Try harder. You should have won — but I’m not surprised you didn’t.”

Blah blah blah …

I would never talk to anyone else like that … but oh, the things I said to myself.

It’s only as I got older — and learned from others’ wiser than myself — that I became my own friend. I discovered I liked me. I was worth my time, worth getting to know. Worth investing in.

One of the things I do just because I enjoy it is walk along the beach whenever I can. It’s relaxing … a time when I savor being both alone and when I feel closest to God. I make no apologies for my walks along the beach. You see, I know myself well — I’m my own friend — and I realize those walks restore my soul.

So do times of silence.

So do the walks I take with my friend Mary.

So does laughter with my girlfriends.

So does spending time with other writers — because they “get” me. They are my people.

In Your Words: How friendly are you with yourself? What have you learned about yourself as you “befriended” yourself?

In Others’ Words: The Value of Befriending Yourself #InOthersWords #friendship #Identity
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“Friendship with oneself is all important, because without it one cannot be friends with anyone…
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Next Tuesday, January 12, my friend writer Karen Schravemade, who blogs over at A House Full of Sunshine, will be dropping by as a guest blogger — and I’ll be having a fun giveaway! See you next week!