**This is one of my love poems for my Day 143!!**

**I wrote this poem based off a prompt of my own creation, so if you use this prompt, please give me credit for the prompt.**

**Prompt: Write about learning to love yourself. Explore the internal battles and quiet victories that come with building a relationship with your own reflection.**

I stare

At the girl

In the mirror,

Disgusted

By what I see

Looking back at me.

About what others think

I care too much,

And now

I hate myself,

I loathe my reflection,

I’m sickened by

Me being me.

_Feeling this way_

_Doesn’t feel right…_

_All I want_

_Is to see the light…_

A war waged

Inside my brain,

Trying to disrupt

My negative train

Of thought.

The riot continued

Day in and

Day out

Until the war

Was done…

_Surprisingly,_

_Optimism won._

A loud cheer erupted

Inside me,

But outside

It was a quieter victory.

I regained shreds of

Confidence and hope

I thought I’d lost forever…

_Optimism_

_Really does help…_

I learned how to

Take a hit,

And I learned how to

Put up with their shit.

__

_I’m proud _

_To be me!_

When I stare

At the girl in the mirror,

She smiles at me

With a wink

And a thumbs-up!

_I return the gesture._

Optimism

Saved me

When nobody could.

__

_I learned to love,_

_To love myself!_