Love Myself

This is Charlie Chaplin at age 26, photographed 100 years ago. It’s believed he wrote this wonderful poem below at age 70.

As I began to love myself 

I found that anguish and emotional suffering 

are only warning signs that I was living 

against my own truth. 

Today, I know, this is Authenticity.

As I began to love myself 

I understood how much it can offend somebody 

if I try to force my desires on this person, 

even though I knew the time was not right 

and the person was not ready for it, 

and even though this person was me. 

Today I call this Respect.

As I began to love myself 

I stopped craving for a different life, 

and I could see that everything 

that surrounded me 

was inviting me to grow. 

Today I call this Maturity.

As I began to love myself 

I understood that at any circumstance, 

I am in the right place at the right time, 

and everything happens at the exactly right moment. 

So I could be calm. 

Today I call this Self-Confidence.

As I began to love myself 

I quit stealing my own time, 

and I stopped designing huge projects 

for the future. 

Today, I only do what brings me joy and happiness, 

things I love to do and that make my heart cheer, 

and I do them in my own way 

and in my own rhythm. 

Today I call this Simplicity.

As I began to love myself 

I freed myself of anything 

that is no good for my health – 

food, people, things, situations, 

and everything that drew me down 

and away from myself. 

At first I called this attitude a healthy egoism. 

Today I know it is Love of Oneself.

As I began to love myself 

I quit trying to always be right, 

and ever since 

I was wrong less of the time. 

Today I discovered that is Modesty.

As I began to love myself 

I refused to go on living in the past 

and worrying about the future. 

Now, I only live for the moment, 

where everything is happening. 

Today I live each day, 

day by day, 

and I call it Fulfillment.

As I began to love myself 

I recognized 

that my mind can disturb me 

and it can make me sick. 

But as I connected it to my heart, 

my mind became a valuable ally. 

Today I call this connection Wisdom of the Heart.

We no longer need to fear arguments, 

confrontations or any kind of problems 

with ourselves or others. 

Even stars collide, 

and out of their crashing, new worlds are born. 

Today I know: This is Life!”

C.C.