Day 29: אָהוּב / Being loved
Yesterday was a day that hinted at self-negation, urging us to forgo pride and always defer credit to others. Today, we pivot back and make space for self-love. As my mindfulness-oriented sister always preaches, "Today is another day to love and be loved."
Rabbi Akiva suggests, "Beloved is man for he was created in the image [of God]" (Pirkei Avot 3:14). Lest we overcompensate on the side of humility and come to forget our self-worth, today we are reminded that each and every one of us is worthy of love because we are all reflections and manifestations of the Divine.
Of course we should find and honor that holy spark in others, but we must first find it in ourselves. In fact, I believe that the commandment to "Honor your neighbor as yourself" (Leviticus 19:18) infers that our capacity to love others grows out of our sense of self-worth and self-respect.
Reflection:
Why did we only arrive at this value after speaking repeatedly about the values of humility and rejecting pride? In what order are we supposed to cultivate our sense of self-love vs. deference to others?
Lived practice:
Show yourself love today. Eat a healthy meal, and thank yourself for that nourishment. Move around and be grateful for your body. Forgive yourself if there is anything you are holding onto or regretting.
