Andrea Hylen

Don’t you love full circle moments? On February 16, 2011, I wrote this blog on another site and it mentions the work of Christine Arylo.  This week (2 years later!)  Liz Draman and I interviewed Christine on our radio show Voices of Love.

Click on this link to listen to the show. (Dare to Fall in Love with Yourself)

February 16, 2011

We have all been placed on earth to discover our own path. We will never be happy if we live someone else’s idea of life. ~James Van Praagh.

The best way to discover your own path is to develop a relationship with yourself, to cultivate self-love and to spend time in solitude.

There is a brilliant five minute video called, “How to be alone.” Filmed by Andrea Dorfman and written and performed by poet/singer/songwriter, Tanya Davis, it explores the idea of nurturing and developing the skill of being alone.

We are not really taught that it is okay to be alone.”You’ll find, it’s fine to be alone once you’re embracing it” a quote from the video.

Tanya suggests we start by making a list of acceptable places to be alone. The bathroom, the coffee shop, the library. Prayer and meditation are more acceptable places.Then, her poem invites you to take yourself to dinner with linens and silverware. Take yourself dancing and dance like no one is watching.

In one of the scenes she is sitting on a bench alone and opens you to the idea of how this creates a space for an unexpected conversation. She says, “It may never have happened, if you weren’t there sitting by yourself.”

More quotes from the film, “If you’re happy in your head, then solitude is best and alone is okay. It doesn’t mean you’re not connected.Take silence and respect it.”

There is a tendency to look outside of ourselves to fill time that could be spent alone.

How To Be Alone

During the last year, I spent many hours in solitude. Walking on the beach, sitting in coffee shops by myself, going to plays in small theaters and finding the joy in getting to know myself better. I have more clarity, joy, wisdom and feel a sense of grounded freedom. I encourage everyone to go on this journey with themselves. You are a magnificent being. Open to this discovery.

There is a wave of self-love appearing in events and on the internet. The Agape Spiritual Center in Los Angeles sponsors an event on Valentine’s Day with music, conversation, good food and hand massages. Self-love is encouraged and celebrated.

“The deep love you seek starts and ends with the love you have for you” ~Christine Arylo

Feb 13 has been declared an annual celebration called, Madly in Love with Me Day. Some of the suggestions for developing self-love first:

• Love yourself, all of you, especially the parts hard to love
• Settle for nothing less than your heart and soul desire
• Have only relationships full of unconditional love and respect
• Be nice to yourself (stop being so hard on you!) Develop compassion for who you are.
• Take care of yourself, without guilt (you give from the overflow)

Christine Arylo

Let’s all send ourselves pure unconditional love and open to the true path we are guided to follow. Knowing yourself will heal inner loneliness and the fear of loneliness.

Open to the gift of who you are and Celebrate!