Say your name out loud
Say it
Not forced
Say it with joy, compassion, and love
Can you?
Say it in front of the mirror
Say it looking boldly into your eyes
Breathe in
Listen
What do you hear in the echo?

Lately, I’ve been saying my own name out loud. Not rushed, not forced. Telling myself things I need to hear.

It feels different when I slow down and really hear it. When I say it like I mean it. Almost like I’m reminding myself who I am, and that I deserve to be spoken to with compassion.

It’s simple, but it changes something inside me.