Best Poems Written by Kristen Quinn

Is Self-Love Possible

Sure I compare myself to others
I can think that someone is funnier than me
That someone is happier 
  Or taller or prettier
   Or skinnier or faster
    Or smarter or more successful 
     Or ... anything 
But there is still one thing they don’t have 
My combination 
The combination of characteristics that makes me, me
Nobody can take that away from me,
This isn’t a trade-up situation
It’s not the characteristics I have that
Make me better than another
That’s not the goal, there’s no measuring tool
What matters is the way I use my talents 
And since there is no measuring stick, 
Doesn’t that mean there isn’t 
a grading system?
And if that’s the case, I’m not failing
And if I’m not failing, I think I’d rather spend my time loving myself than searching for reasons why I shouldn’t. 
So the self-love doesn’t start when 
I get the job I want or I clean my room
Or I start a relationship,
It starts now. Regardless of anything.
Because self-love isn’t attained by anything 
Other than what already exists inside of me.

Copyright © Kristen Quinn | Year Posted 2021