Learning to love yourself

I think loving yourself and your body is one of the most fierce things ever, but it's one that a lot of people struggle with. You're born into the world with this blank canvas that serves as a shell for the vital organs that keep you alive, and you don't get a say in what that canvas looks like. But as you grow, it does too; every freckle, every scar, every tattoo - they paint a picture as unique as you are. They tell your life story without the need for words that can so easily be lost in translation. Your bones are made of the same stuff as the stars, and look how bright they shine in the dark, and look how much we respect them enough to make wishes on them. Don't you think we ought to treat our bodies the same way?

Learning to love yourself has nothing to do with eating kale for breakfast and going for runs at sunset (although they're perfectly acceptable ways to spend your time if that's what you enjoy doing) - it's about looking in the mirror and appreciating what's there. The dents in your knees from kneeling on the ground planting sunflowers in Spring, the curves of your tummy that mean you won't be going to bed hungry tonight, the shadows under your eyes from sleepless nights under the moon with your best friends.

I take selfies whenever I look good because there's nothing wrong with owning it and wanting to show it off to the world - a permanent reminder of that day when your make up was on point or you looked particularly cute in your favourite outfit. Good body image days can be rare but when you have the, grab them with both hands and give them a sloppy kiss. Make the most of them; it's step one to falling in love with yourself.

What's your number one tip for loving yourself?