The thing about self-love is that so many of us act like we know what it is without having a clue. Because self-love isn't just running yourself a warm bath or watching your favourite Netflix series. Self-love isn't just a shopping spree, accompanied by brunch with your best friend, or walks to the park with your dog. Self-love isn't just adventures out and cosy nights in, but sleepless nights, long nights, tiresome, fidgety, 'I can't get this out of my head' nights. Self-love is trying to calm yourself down on those nights —and waking up, groggy-eyed, heart thudding inside your chest for the long road ahead. Self-love is difficult conversations and hard-to-forget-goodbyes. Self-love is cutting people off after one too many chances and giving yourself a chance instead. Self-love is losing, failing, and letting yourself simmer in negative thoughts for a while longer before getting back up. Self-love is fighting the biting thoughts overwhelming your mind on dark days, as well as the bright ones. Self-love is being patient with yourself, through the easy moments and the heavy ones, through the love and friendship heartbreaks, through the gloomiest parts of your healing, as well as the most beautiful parts, through the tears, hurting and healing. Self-love is knowing that —after everything-you are all you really have.