There is something so wonderfully rebellious about Mae West's words. At first glance, saying you are crazy about yourself might sound like vanity, but when you look deeper, it feels like a profound act of courage. To fall in love with yourself means to embrace your quirks, your mistakes, and even the parts of you that you once tried to hide from the world. It is about moving from a place of self-criticism to a place of radical acceptance, where you become your own biggest fan rather than your harshest judge.
In our everyday lives, we are often much harder on ourselves than we would ever be to a dear friend. We carry around these heavy backpacks filled with every awkward thing we said in a meeting or every time we felt we weren't enough. We spend so much energy trying to polish our edges so that others will like us, often forgetting that the very things that make us unique are the things worth loving. We wait for external validation to tell us we are worthy, but that validation is like sand slipping through our fingers if we don't have a foundation of self-love within ourselves.
I remember a time when I was feeling particularly low, sitting by the pond and feeling like I wasn't doing anything right. I was looking at everyone else's highlight reels and feeling so small. I started practicing a tiny version of this quote by simply acknowledging my own worthiness, even on my messy days. I began to treat my mistakes with the same kindness I would give a tiny duckling who tripped on a pebble. Slowly, that feeling of being 'crazy' about my own journey started to replace the heavy feeling of self-doubt. It wasn't about being perfect; it was about being present and affectionate toward my own soul.
Learning to love yourself is a journey, not a destination. Some days you will feel like you are winning, and other days you might struggle to see the beauty in the mirror. That is okay. The goal is to keep showing up for yourself with that same playful, bold energy that Mae West describes. You don't need to be perfect to be worthy of your own affection.
Today, I want to encourage you to find one small thing about yourself to celebrate. Maybe it is your resilience, your sense of humor, or even just the way you keep trying despite the hard days. Take a moment to look inward and offer yourself a little bit of that much-needed love. You truly deserve your own heart.