Some thoughts and discussions from me.
Self, Will You Be My Valentine?
Happy Valentine’s Day! 
Please allow me to be a bit rambly and deep today.
The past years that I’ve blogged on Valentine’s, I’ve gone the typical route, and wrote a mushy gushy lovey dovey post about Shane. This year, I want to talk about something different (although Shane is still my sweetie pie smoosh face that I love!)
Let’s talk about Self Love. I’m not talking about “love your body” or “appreciating your curves” or blah blah blah. Not that that stuff’s not important. I’m talking about loving WHO you ARE.
I’ve actually had a tough time with this concept.
Growing up, I was always a follower. I wasn’t afraid of being different or weird – I was just more comfortable letting someone else lead. This lead to having a pretty weak sense of self. I always followed the trends, and wanted to be friends with the cool kids.
Now I know the cool kids are the “kids” I call my best friends and family. Those who have stuck with me through thick and thin. Now I’m one of the cool kids in my world.
Not having a strong sense of self growing up lead me to my rebellion phase in high school and college, which I think, in the end was a good thing, because I found myself on the other end. Because of this, I made it my life goal in my lower twenties to figure out who I was, and I’m happy to say that now not only do I know who I am, but I also love the person I am.
And I don’t mean that in a conceited way. I mean it in a this is who God made me and I’m going to do my best dang job at it! Besides, it takes way too much energy trying to pretend you’re something that you’re not.
If I ever feel myself being jealous, bitter,comparing, coveting, or wanting what someone else has, I give myself a mental slap in the face and ask myself one question:
Am I being 100% true to myself right now?
In those situations, the answer is typically no, notsomuch.
I am…
friendly
shy
sensitive
adventure-seeking
fun-loving
active
particular
impulsive
loyal
intense
bratty (at times!)
a good judge of character (I like to think, at least)
Obviously not all of those qualities are considered desirable, but they’re me, and that’s more than fine with me 
And now I’m going to go eat some of my favorite chocolate.
Did you consider yourself a leader or a follower growing up?
For funsies – what’s your favorite chocolate bar?
I loooove Chocolove and Endangered Species dark chocolate bars, but Lindt comes in a close 3rd!
Love this post Paige! I was such a follower growing up and it was always something I was aware of and wanted to change but just couldn’t! I am slowly learning exactly who I am and trying to embrace it as much as I can! Such a beautifully written post!
Danielle (@CleanFoodCreativeFitness) recently posted…Love Your Body
Love this post! Definitely an amazing thing to be thinking about on Valentine’s Day.
I was a huge follower growing up – I just wanted all the ‘cool kids’ to like me and think that I was one of them. Fortunately, I seem to have outgrown that!
Sam @ Better With Sprinkles recently posted…Love.
A great Valentine post! I don’t really think I was either growing up. I went to a very small school, and had a core group of friends. I guess we were the cool kids, but only by default! I was definitely more comfortable following their lead, but I was never afraid to stand up to something I thought wasn’t the way we should be going.
Natalie @ Free Range Human recently posted…Peanut Butter Makes It Better
I LOVE THIS! You know the saying “You can’t give love to anyone else until your learn to love yourself”. I think that is so true! SO YOU GO GIRLIE!
Krysten Siba Bishop (@darwinianfail) recently posted…Exercise = Happy Hearts
I agree 100% with this post! You can’t be happy until you love yourself. And my fav. candy bar is milky way, yum. Happy V-day!
Ashley @ Life and Fitness recently posted…Valentine’s Day
LOVE this post Paige! I can relate to having a difficult time with this growing up too. I feel like I’m finally in a place that I’m content with just being ME, and that’s the best place to be in my opinion. 😉
Ashley @ My Food N Fitness Diaries recently posted…Strawberries ‘N Cream Smoothie
Self love is the hardest, but also the most important! Without it, it can be really hard to accept love from other people in our lives!
And everybody knows that the best way to show ourselves love is through chocolate. I loveee the Newman’s Own Orange chocolate bars, but I wouldn’t pass up a good Twix or Kit Kat either. Classic!
Carly @ Snack Therapy recently posted…Selfie Central
I can definitely relate. I was 100% the follower when I was a kid. I had the worst anxiety about what other’s thought about me. It wasn’t until college that I truly let go of those feelings. I struggle with it now and again as a 20-something trying to find her way, but it’s much better than it used to be. Happy V-day to you, Paige!
Sarah @ Blonde Bostonian recently posted…Our Valentine’s Day
Growing up I was definitely more of a leader, but never intentionally. I didn’t want to lead and make decisions, but people and friends were always just following what I did naturally. It’s a quality that’s stuck with me today. This is a great post, being 100% true to yourself and who you are is really all that matters. What’s the point in trying to be someone or something that you’re not?
Meghan @ After the Ivy League recently posted…WIAW #20: Old Favorites
Great post & Happy Valentine’s Day! Self-love is so often overlooked! I notice I spend so much time trying to please others & not enough focussing on my own happiness, something I’m working on. Growing-up I was such a follower & find myself morphing into more of a leader as I grow up! TJ’s has a dark chocolate, carmel sea salt bar that I want to marry 🙂
Katie @ KatieEnPursuit recently posted…Jamaican Me Crazy!
I love this post, I guess I was both a leader and a follower but most of the time try to lead! I wasn’t always a self lover, and still struggle with it some days but for the most part I love the person I have become!
Kaitlin @4loveofcarrots recently posted…Happy Valentine’s Day (a post from Jeff)
LOVE! <3
Shannon ~ My Place In The Race recently posted…On The Up Side
Great idea for today! I’ve never been much of a follower, but that doesn’t mean that there weren’t times when I wished that I was 🙂 Often made things so much more simple!
And I am LOVING the dark chocolate/sea salt combo these days. It’s like my crack!
Colorado Gal recently posted…A Love Letter to My Mountains
Love this post! Knowing and loving who you are is SO important. I took 3 years out of my life after college to really get into a deep and appreciative relationship with myself and it was one of the best things I’ve ever done.
And favorite chocolate? That would be like asking me to pick a favorite child if I had any, haha. I love milk chocolate the most even though it’s not the “healthy” kind. I really like Cadbury Dairy Milk bars.
Kacy recently posted…Comment on How you spend it by Parita @ myinnershakti
I’m going to add to your list of words that describe YOU: Beautiful, strong, funny and AWESOME. 🙂
What a great post! Self love is hard, dude. I have always been a “leader,” seemed outgoing, confident, etc. But, I have always been insecure about a lot of things (my body being #1). That’s still me toughest battle to this day- and being in the profession that I am doesn’t make it any easier. I definitely feel the pressure to have a great (I won’t say “perfect”) body as a trainer. But, I have to just accept me for who I am today.
Happy V-day!
Lauren @ Oatmeal after Spinning recently posted…A KIND Valentine
I would considered myself a leader in the way of I didn’t do something because everyone else was doing it and I never had a hard time saying no to peer pressure. I’m not afraid to be alone and I think that is why sometimes people are followers.?
I Love dark chocolate Ghiradelle.. How the hell do you spell that?!! And also the Green & Blacks is yummy too!
Love this post. Probably one of my faves! Me? Leader-ish. I was a brave soul and still am. But as I get older being a leader in business is no longer a trait I care to have. I’ve scaled back my ‘career’ ambitions because my quality of life is much more important. Not worth the little sanity I have.
Chocolate? I’m quite particular. I really like Green & Black’s Organic chocolate. But, alas, I can not be trusted with it so all chocolate is banned from my house. It’s a drug that I need to quit! 🙂
Great post and reminder to all of us to give ourselves some love!!!!
Did you consider yourself a leader or a follower growing up? Leader. Its a roll I just seem to grab naturally. That being said, there are times when I do feel more comfortable following.
For funsies – what’s your favorite chocolate bar? I’m not really a huge chocolate person (not just saying that)- I much prefer sugar candy. The little blackberries and raspberries are my favorite. I may get some tonight :). If I’m going to eat chocolate- I like TJs semi sweet chocolate chips.
Erica recently posted…Strawberry Cupcakes with Strawberry Butter Cream Frosting
Being cool with one’s self is oh so important. That is really where it starts.
Chocolate bar? I’m boring, I like snickers.
Pavement Runner recently posted…Playlist Thursday: Random, I know
What great post Paige! I just now in the past couple of years really focused on finding out who I am. I’m still working on it these days too. I was definitely the follower, but more so because I wasn’t really given the opportunity to be a kid, have fun and be myself. I went a little on the crazier side when I went to college and luckily met Tony shortly afterwards. I’m so happy that I’ve grown up (we’ve been together 19 years) with someone that allows me the opportunity to change and still loves me unconditionally. I have to say, that at this point, I’m really liking the person I am. No, I’m not perfect, but my mistakes and downfalls are mine and they are a part of me.
I hope you had an incredible day!
Sarena (The Non Dairy Queen) recently posted…Finding My Happy Place…
What a great post! In fact, it appears we were on the same wave length today. Though since I’m single this Valentine’s Day, I had even more reason to take it as an opportunity to remember to love myself and who I am, because honestly, I’m pretty great (as are you)!
Katie @ Talk Less, Say More recently posted…Love YOU!