The Day I Overheard a Lesson Meant for All of Us

When was the last time you told yourself you were enough? 

Not just as a passing thought, but in the quiet of your own mind, looking inward with the gentleness you deserve. It’s a question that lingers—one we rarely pause to answer. I wasn’t planning to ask myself this either, until one ordinary evening turned into an extraordinary reminder. 

 

A Lesson from My Sister 

It was a quiet evening at home. I was lying on the sofa, scrolling through my phone, when I heard my sister’s voice from the next room. 

At first, I didn’t think much of it. It was just background noise, but something in her tone made me pause. I got up and walked quietly toward her room, curious to know what she was saying. 

Through the half-open door, I saw her sitting cross-legged on the floor with her little daughter. My sister’s voice was calm and steady as she said, “Say it with me: I am strong. I am brave. I am beautiful. I am kind. I am loved.” 

Her daughter repeated the words softly, stumbling a little, but smiling as she tried. 

But as I listened, I realized this was no ordinary moment. My sister wasn’t just teaching her daughter words; she was planting seeds—seeds of belief, strength, and self-love. 

And in that quiet moment, watching them, something stirred in me. A thought. A realization. 

The Forgotten Lesson 

When did I stop telling myself those things? 

When was the last time I reminded myself that I am strong, brave, and kind? 

When did I forget that I am worthy of love—especially my own? 

The more I thought about it, the more I realized how life pulls us away from these simple truths. We get so wrapped up in the chaos of the world—meeting deadlines, pleasing others, trying to fit into roles we think we’re supposed to play—that we forget the most important person we need to take care of: ourselves. 

We put everyone else first, leaving little room to love and nurture the one person who’s been with us through every challenge—our own self. 

Taking the First Step 

But here’s the thing: self-love doesn’t come easily. It isn’t something you just decide to have one day. Watching my sister and her daughter, I realized it’s a process—a journey that starts with the smallest of steps. 

It begins with choosing yourself in tiny, everyday moments: 

• Saying no when your plate is already full. 

• Speaking up for yourself, even when it’s uncomfortable. 

• Allowing yourself to rest without guilt. 

 

These baby steps may seem insignificant at first, but over time, they create a foundation—a steady reminder that you matter, too. 

A Journey Worth Taking 

I won’t lie to you. It’s not an easy journey. There will be days when self-doubt whispers louder than self-love. Days when you’ll feel like giving up. But every time you choose yourself, no matter how small the act, you take one step closer to embracing who you truly are. 

Standing outside that room, watching my sister teach her daughter, I realized that self-love isn’t just a gift we give ourselves. It’s a gift we pass on to others—through our words, our actions, and the way we show up for ourselves. 

And that’s when I made a promise. 

I promised myself that I would start—start speaking to myself with the kindness I deserve, start believing in my own strength, and start taking those baby steps toward loving the person I see in the mirror. 

Because if a little girl can learn to say, “I am strong, I am brave, I am beautiful, I am kind, I am loved,” then so can I. 

So can you.