I’ve sat here for over an hour trying to piece together words or similar expressions to describe how to show oneself compassion; the highest form of resilience when faced with adversity. Unfortunately, I don’t have the words or the capabilities to truly express how I show myself compassion. So instead, I’m going back to somewhere simpler, and relying on something my mother used to read to me to get across how I’m feeling, and what I’m thinking.

Guess How Much I Love You

By Sam McBratney

Little Nut Brown Hare,who was going to bed, held on tight to Big Nutbrown Hare’s very long ears.
He wanted to be sure that Big Nutbrown Hare was listening.
“Guess how much i love you,” he said.
“Oh, I don’t think I could guess that,”said Big Nutbrown Hare.
“This much,”said Little Nutbrown Hare,stretching out his arms as wide as they could go.
Bid Nutbrown Hare had even longer arms.”But I love YOU this much,” he said.
Hmmm,that is a lot thought Little Nutbrown Hare.
“I love you as high as I can reach,”said Little Nutbrown Hare.
“I love you as High as I can reach,”said Big Nutbrown HAre.
That is quite high, thought Little Nutbrown Hare. I wish I had arms like that.
Then Little Nutbrown Hare had a good idea.He tumbled upside down and reached up the tree trunk with his feet.
” I love you all the way up to my toes!” he said.
“And I love you all the way up to your toes,” said Big Nutbrown Hare,swinging him up over his head.
” I love you as high as i can HOP!” laughed Little Nutbrown Hare,bouncing up and down.
“But I love you as high as I can hop,” smiled Big Nutbrown hare-and he hopped so high that his ears touched the branches above.
Thats good hopping,thought Little Nutbrown Hare.I wish I could hop like that.
“I love you all the way down the lane as far as the river,” cried Little Nutbrown Hare.
That’s very far,thought Little Nutbrown Hare.
He was almost too sleepy to think anymore.
Then he looked beyond the thorn bushes,out into the big dark night.
Nothing could be further than the sky.
“I love you right up to the MOON,” he said,and closed his eyes.
“Oh,that’s far”said Big Nut Brown Hare.”Thats is very far.”
Big Nutbrown Hare settled Little Nutbrown Hare into his bed of leaves.
He leaned over and kissed him good night.
Then he lay down close by and whispered with a smile,”I love you right up to the moon-AND BACK.”

 I think overall compassion to oneself is complicated, and made even harder by extraneous pressures. So many factors constantly and forcefully push back, so it’s hard to recognize that you’re allowed to show yourself these things. I think this is something I need to remember as I go throughout this year//life.