The Universe to You: “Appreciate Yourself!”

Ever feel taken for granted, under-appreciated, dis-respected, or even stepped on?

 Well, as an old saying goes, “Appreciate yourself or no one else will.”

 And to help us on that path...here’s a story.

The Mirrors of Meaning

A beautiful white-haired woman stands, looks at her art students, and says, “The message of the entire universe to you is ‘appreciate yourself.’ In this class, you will learn to begin to look at the world—and yourself—in a new way. Every aspect of nature—every leaf, cloud, snowflake, drop of rain, every bird in the sky—is a mirror. Every brush stroke of every painting—every expression of the human imagination—is a mirror.

Together, nature and art represent millions of mirrors. These mirrors exist to provide the possibility that, at some point in your life, you will truly see yourself and appreciate yourself. Once you appreciate yourself, then, and only then, can you become a true appreciator of life and love. Only then can you make your life a work of art, creating your own mirrors of meaning.

 Today, I’ll start with myself. I’ll appreciate myself.

Who knows, I may feel so good about myself

that I can also appreciate you, and you,

and, yes, even you.

-J.M.Z. Hawkins