I matter

I truly cherish a real glow-up day with my whole heart—morning meditation, mat Pilates, face massage, skincare routine, dry brushing, a shower, and finishing it all off by moisturising my entire body. Closer to a goddess I cannot become. This is me every morning. Some would call it high-maintenance; I call it important time with myself.

This is simply an outer form of self-care, yet within its vanity there lies a deeper meaning: I matter. You see, it’s not so much what you do, but why you do it. Do you do it to get others to like you, or do you do it because you love yourself?

A 10-step skin care routine won’t magically transform you to a self-loving individual who knows their worth. Without the inner form of self-care, the outer form stands worthless. But what is that inner form of self-care? How does it show up in your life? It’s sticking to your promises. It’s making time for your hobbies in a hectic schedule. It’s allowing yourself to simply be – quiet, patient and in tune with yourself.

It’s listening to your needs, your wants and desires. It’s saying no when you’re tired, and yes when you’re curious.

It’s updating your CV, calling your parents. It’s not needing to have fifty pair of shoes collecting dust, but instead five pairs you love and actually use.

It’s allowing yourself playtime in the snow. It’s letting your sensuality come forth, your passion and light shine through. It’s knowing not everyone will cheer on you or pat you on your back when you succeed, yet knowing you still matter, you still belong.

It’s starting something new – attending a course, reaching out to a stranger. It’s choosing differently. It’s saying goodbye to your old self, and holding space for all of you while you do.

When you truly start to care for yourself, you truly start to care for others. When you learn how to hold space for yourself, you can hold space for others. When you love yourself, you love others. It stems from within – it all stems from within.

When you run away from yourself, you run away from life. Stop.

Self-care is realising you were never flawed. There was never anything that needed fixing. You simply needed enough stillness to become aware of that.

Self-care is being you in a world that keeps telling you to be someone else.