There are things that often go unnoticed: The innocent dewdrop reflecting sunlight, the browned leaves quietly falling to the ground on a warm evening and the quiet whisper of a breeze across the sparkling lake on a calm evening. Such is casual beauty, residing in places we often overlook- but for the seeking eye, for the onlooker who rarely misses, casual beauty provides solace unlike any other masterpiece. “Where exactly does the point lie, dear author?”, you might be thinking right about now. Well, let me tell you, dear reader, what exactly the point is. Amongst the glorified, exhibited and normalized Romantic Love that is so yearned for, lies in a quiet corner the kind of love that only an individual will find, only through a quest of their own: the love only the best real-ationship will give you – Self-Love.

The longest relationship, the one that often requires the most work, but the one that will be of the utmost satisfaction once felt, is the one we have with ourselves. From looking at your journey and being proud of all that is encompassed- the ups andthe downs, the good, bad and the ugly- all as one, all recognized, regardless of how it may have been perceived by another, is true self love. Looking at yourself in the mirror, and feeling a genuine sense of affection for your body and all that it does for you, is also love. Being able to hold yourself when your days start to sound like “Bad day” by Daniel Powter on a rainy afternoon, is also love, coupled with strength. Self-love is not something that can be defined as a one-size-fits-all concept. It is like the root of a tree, which has crept into all nooks and crannies of the ground beneath it, growing and growing, all the while strengthening the base of the tree, allowing it to stand strong in all it’s beauty.

Much are the stories the roots would share, if only they communicated with humans in a widespread language of ours. They would tell us just how difficult it is to grow, all the while pushing away every single grain of sand, every single pebble and every single concrete obstacle that stands in it’s way; but they would also end their stories with “ I did it! ”. Likewise, dear reader, all of us for certain have had moments where we pushed through. Where we pushed through, to emerge a new being altogether.  A feat that was only possible through the left holding your right hand, and the voice inside your head saying,“Come on love, just a little bit further”. If it weren’t for you, guiding yourself in the darkest of times, when no one else was around, you wouldn’t have climbed so far as you have. And if that’s not love, I don’t know what is.

Very similar to success, self-love is not a destination, but a journey that we all trek on; individually. No matter how large your circle is, this road, you travel alone. This road is where you’ll see, in the trees and in the breeze, and amongst the rocks you’ll stumble upon, just how strong you are, and just how courageous. You will see yourself in the same light you view others in, in all the warmth and love you so freely give others- and you will come to a point where you will look at it all- the mistakes, the accomplishments and all the colors of the rainbow, and you will finally place yourself as the main character in all those love songs that you listen to. And you will see yourself as that glamorous protagonist, painted in such a lovely way in your favorite book. And in that moment, my dear reader, you will fall in love, with none other, but yourself.

Written by: Rtr. Sandali Mendis

Graphic design by: Rtr. Sathmi Dinanja