Loving Yourself Is Important, But There's Another Way To Find Happiness

I'm tired of people, articles, TV shows and my mom saying, “You have to love yourself.”

Hello, people. I do love myself.

I graduated from college, got a job, have friends and do fun stuff.

I'm happy and healthy.

Some days, I think I'm the greatest thing since sliced bread.

Some days, I tell myself I look pretty or congratulate myself on a job well done.

Some days, I am a fierce, independent woman who doesn't need a man.

Some days, I even think to myself, "I am so incredibly awesome. I don't think there is enough room for anyone else in my life."

Then, there are days when I look in the mirror and think, "Damn. I need to hit the gym."

"Maybe I really shouldn't be wearing this top."

"I really wish I had a guy to cuddle and watch movies with tonight."

"Too bad I suck at this job."

"I wish I could just stay in bed all day and eat Tostitos."

But even on the days I'm pretty hard on myself, I never stop loving myself.

I am who I am.

Someone telling me good things will happen if I love myself first doesn't really seem to change much in my life.

Yes, I'll be happier, but that's not just because I love myself so much.

It doesn't mean I won't ever be in a sh*tty relationship or have a sh*tty day.

It's not going to be the reason I fall in love, get a good job or live in a cool apartment.

Good things happen to pretty much everyone on this planet, no matter what these people think of themselves.

I am all for being a strong, independent, awesome woman, but that's not going to change the way people treat me or the outcomes of certain situations in my life.

Some days, you are going to need someone by your side, whether it's a significant other, a parent, a friend or even a pet dog.

Some days, you're just not going to be able to handle life on your own.

That doesn't make you broken or weak, and it certainly does not mean you don't love who you are and who you're becoming.

I'm tired of people telling me everything starts with loving the person I am.

I'm tired of people telling me this is why I don't have a boyfriend.

I'm tired of people trying to make up some psychological reason why I'm not in love or why I'm not smiling every damn day.

Some days, I really just want to be in a bad mood.

Some days, I want to cry, yell or be angry.

Some days, I want to be really sad and close myself off from the world.

Then some days, I want to smile every minute and hug all of God's creatures.

But no matter my mood or relationship status, I'm still so happy to be the girl who likes to write cheesy blog posts and obnoxiously sing songs without knowing all the lyrics.

Yes, being “in love” with yourself, putting yourself first and all that self-love mumbo-jumbo is great.

It's fabulous.

But, it doesn't mean the rest of your life is going to solely revolve around that.

It doesn't mean everything great in the world will happen to you, and everything that's bad won't.

You're still going to meet sh*theads, and you're still going to wish you were 10 pounds lighter.

You can be the strongest person in the world, still have bad days, still be single and still wish you were someone else for a little while.

We all know (or at least have an idea of) who we are and what we deserve in life.

The other times, we just don't have any clue.

But that's really okay.

Good things will happen whether you're kissing your reflection in the mirror or not.