I’m currently sat in my own version of paradise. I’m sat on the beach watching the waves, just three steps away gently breaking, with Zero 7 on Spotify playing in one ear. Honestly, I’ve not felt this content for a while.

I love the sea. Dave has commented before, that regardless of whether the waves are crashing in, or if the sea is so still that there’s not even a ripple, it has a hugely calming effect on me.
Oddly, when I lived in Essex, although I was just 15 minutes from the sea, I rarely went. Now, it’s much more like 50 minutes away. It’s funny what you miss and take for granted.

Today I’ve signed up for Mel Wells’ self love week. Over the course of this week (starting tomorrow) I will be completing one challenge a day for five days.

Why have I done this?

Over the last couple of years, I have become more settled and consequently, more happy with who I am. I’ve come to realise that the greatest ever love affair that I will have is with myself. However, I have neglected this relationship. True, I’m happy with myself, but now I’ve found that happiness with myself, I’ve accepted it and sort of just left it there.

The thing is, like with all relationships, once you find happiness you can’t stop working on it. You have to nurture it. You have to make time for it.

A switch has flicked in my head in the last couple of weeks. I received some potentially life changing news. It’s too early to say what that news is and what impact it will have right now, but it I’m honest, it’s given me a wake up call. I need to change my outlook and that means stopping taking my life for granted. I need to take some time to work on what’s important.

Taking time out for you, isn’t selfish. It’s a necessity and sadly something that the vast majority of us neglect.

My first step in connecting with myself, is to appreciate waking up everyday. Not just accepting it. Truly being grateful for it.

I’ll aim to write about these challenges everyday, but it’s unlikely that I’ll upload them daily as I’m still in Greece until Wednesday. Hopefully on Friday, I’ll have some time to write about my experiences in self love week.

I’m hoping that self love week will help me to refocus on caring about me, whatever path lies ahead of me.

Jx