Off the Shelf: Love Yourself More

During my life time I have started many book ideas. Sadly, I have yet to finish one. I was recently going through old files and came across an intro for a book I was writing about a girl learning to find her life's purpose. It's only a few paragraphs but I thought it was a nice excerpt to share.

The idea was a girl who had been homeschooled all her life, sheltered, and learning to find herself in the real world. I think in today's world, it could be very relevant. I feel after COVID a lot of people still keep to themselves and really became recluses. I feel I have become disconnected from the outside world in recent years. The world is scary and as you get older you start to understand more of what is happening. I tend to live in books, video games and other channels of escapism to avoid those things. However, it can feel isolating. I feel like I am missing out on a lot of experiences, both good and bad.

That is what makes life the unique experience that it is isn't it? Feelings. Experiences. Love. Hate. Pain. Happiness. It all comes together to make this truly unique experience for every person on this earth and I think that can feel overwhelming at times. I feel I might be rambling at this point. The point is, life is a roller coaster. Here's the intro I wrote for a book with the working title, "Love Yourself More.

Chapter One: Purpose

I believed that everyone loved themselves. I thought anyone who wasn’t happy all the time was just looking for a reason to stay in bed a little longer. That mental illness was an excuse for those who didn’t want to put in the effort to reach their life’s purpose. 

Purpose. The very thing that drives all of humanity. Whether you believe your purpose is to become the President of the United States or to become a general manager at your local grocery store, you have a purpose. It’s that easy. The hard part? Finding it. 

My mom used to read to me every night. She would read me stories filled with kings, queens, talking animals, world travelers and magic. Books for me have always been one of the most comforting things in my life. Anytime I feel sad or scared or anxious… I can run away and find solace with the characters I grew up with. Turns out, I had my head inside my books so much that I forgot how to interact with the world. 

The summer I turned 17 years old, my parents divorced. My mom was devastated. My dad left and my mom had to go back to work full time after staying at home with my brother and I for 18 years. I should mention that up until this point, I was homeschooled. I didn’t know what life was like as a “normal” teenager. Now that my mom had to work 40 hours a week, I had to attend public school. 

Don’t worry, I didn’t have a gruesome public school experience. I actually made friends very quickly. My first day, I met a girl named Erika who quickly became one of my very best friends. It was funny interacting with real life people instead of the characters in my books all day. I began to love the real world more than I loved my books.