The power of self love

By Doreen Marion Gee

In my view, the most important love affair we will ever have is with ourselves. There is probably no other ingredient more essential to health, success and happiness than a solid sense of self-love and self-worth. It sustains and empowers us in the world and gives us the strength to endure the 'slings and arrows' of reality. Caring and empathy towards others start with a steely core of healthy ego. Unfortunately, self-love is not given the importance or recognition it deserves in our society. In our reverence for self-deprecation, we tend to forget that the people who have spread the most love and humanity in this world were kind to themselves first. This is why I was overjoyed to read a book that is not afraid to sing the praises of self-appreciation. The Bathroom Mirror is one of those treasures that you want to carry with you all of the time. In a nutshell: I loved this book!

Craig Barton's valuable book covers a wide variety of self-help topics; the subtitle reads Encouraging thoughts that will help you move on with your life. A line from the back cover sets the self-affirming tone of this book: "It is my hope that after reading The Bathroom Mirror you will come to appreciate just how valuable you are." Barton deals with many human problems but his message is always hopeful. "A better life is waiting for you."

I particularly enjoyed Barton's extremely important message to victims of abuse, drawing the reader close with "LISTEN VERY CAREFULLY." Setting the record straight, he lovingly reminds victims that there is no reason why they were abused and that their abuser worked alone: "You NEVER deserved to be abused." Every survivor should strap this book to their forehead until the words seep in and heal their wounded psyches. Craig also holds out a moral imperative to stand up and speak out against abuse of others because "far too many lives have been lost because no one SAID anything." Courage is the antidote to bullying; the point of reckoning is when we say "Enough is enough."

Barton's gift is his invitation to honour and respect ourselves. The title of his book reflects his harsh judgement of the image in The Bathroom Mirror. The author reasons that most of the 6500 people who die every hour worldwide would "LOVE" what they see in the mirror if they had a chance to live again in his (or your) body. It is all about truly valuing and appreciating who we are, "the gift that WE CALL ME."  His words are sure and clear: "And make sure that you allow your heart to love the one it knows best - YOU."

Barton talks passionately about his book by email, stating that it is aimed at all age groups. His book is a promise kept to himself. After going through his own trials with bullying and low self-esteem growing up, his goal was to take any opportunity to "share and care" with others. He muses that there is "nothing more empowering than to love one 's self.... Self-love is about self-respect. The very least that we can do is to be as considerate of ourselves as we try to be with others."

Welcome to Barton's dream: A copy of The Bathroom Mirror in the hands of every middle school / high school student in Canada. Change starts within us. People who treat themselves well, treat others well. Those who are shaping a kind, humane world cared about themselves first.

Contact: Craig Barton, Email: TheBathroomMirror@shaw.ca, Phone: 250.414.6632, Web: , .