Wednesday, June 24, 2009

When I Loved Myself Enough' by Kim McMillen


An amazing woman gave me this mind blowing  little book about a month or so back, and I haven't been able to put it down. It's a simple read crammed full of the kind of wisdom you only collect over many years of living. But the words are clear and warm, deep and inviting. It left me feeling like there was so much more I had yet to learn about the woman I am and even more to learn about accepting what I find within. Instead of trying to sit on who I am, I wonder about the freedom of just 'being'. 
In the introduction author Kim McMillen writes, "For many years I lived with a guarded heart. I did not know how to extend love and compassion to myself. In my fortieth year that began changing. As I grew to love all of who I am, life started changing in beautiful and mysterious ways. My heart softened and I began to see through very different eyes."
My own path has taken me through some dark places in life, but I am increasingly unwilling to reside in the past. As I look within I see someone worth knowing and I am beginning to set a table inside for all of me to attend. 

As I read this book I let the tears flow. I wonder how many of us have a few tears to cry over the person  that lives within us whom we have abused or denied? I wonder what it will take for us the stop and love who we are? My first act of self love (although I didn't know it at the time) was to start counselling. Kim writes, "When I loved myself enough I quit ignoring or tolerating my pain." Maybe for you it isn't pain, but something else you have been putting up with. I am no longer willing to say "it's okay." when in fact it is not.
Other words of wisdom that hug my heart are, "When I loved myself enough I started feeling all my feelings, not analysing them- really feeling them. When I do, something amazing happens. Try it. You will see."
"When I loved myself enough I learned to meet my own needs and not call it selfish."
"When I loved myself enough I quit exhausting myself by trying so hard."
"When I loved myself enough I began leaving whatever wasn't healthy. This meant people, jobs, my own beliefs and habits-anything that kept me small. My judgement called it disloyal. Now I see it as self love."
This book will take you all of five minutes to read, but it will stay with you long after you finish the last page. Highly recommend it! 
So thank you to the woman who saw me and knew where I was at- should she ever read this she knows who she is. :)
I wonder what words you would add to these pages?
When I loved myself enough...


2 comments:

  1. I would love to read that book where abouts can I get it from?

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  2. I did a search for you. The following bookshops sell it online (I am sure there are others)
    www.booktopia.com.au $15.26
    www.bookworm.com.au $14.40
    www.dymocks.com.au $16.95

    Any book store will order it in for you. Angus & Robertson will order in just about anything as long as you can give them the title and author.

    It really is a great read. You'd love it Shell :)

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