heartness/Vecteezy.com
Did you celebrate Valentine’s Day?
Valentine’s Day gives us an occasion to show love toward a special someone or share sentiments in cards with classmates. In my yoga class with middle schoolers, I shared another interpretation of love.
I asked the girls who is the most important person to love? Many of them said their parents. A few gave the answer I was hoping for: themselves. I believe choosing to love yourself is the way to go. Without loving ourselves first, it is hard to love others.
Now we’ve all heard this before, and I get that it sounds cheesy. But it’s true. For me it’s been a lifelong process. Somedays are easier than others. As a teacher, I want to plant the seed of self-love in the girl’s minds. I want my students to be aware of the thoughts that run through their heads. What kind of messages are they sending to themselves: Valentines or put downs?
Did you know that girls’ self-esteem often peaks at age 9, and then gradually decreases? The kids I work with, between ages 9-13 are at various points with their self-esteem.
So I took an activity from SARK (who greatly inspires me), in which you write a ‘love note’ to yourself from your inner wise self. Often when we write, our intuition kicks in and comes out through our pen. I admit I was nervous that the girls might think this was dumb, or they wouldn’t come up with any words. Yes, they took it in stride and some wrote a whole page!
Out of respect for their privacy, I did not ask anyone to share their note and I told them I wouldn’t read them. I did ask how the exercise felt. One of the girls said “It was deep.”
As parents, I encourage you to write your own love note from your inner wise self.
Here’s one of mine:
Send yourself a Valentine!
What we all need on Valentines day and everyday is self-love. Give yourself some love by writing your own love note to yourself.
Warmly,
Kim
Spring and Summer Registration is open for Girls Rock Yoga classes in the Portland, OR area.