Two years ago, I was at an all-time depression.

Sure, I had everything on newspaper: the dream job, a loving partner, a gorgeous little flat just a half-block from a bodega stocked with over seven flavors of Smucker'southward® jams, jellies, and ice foam toppings. Only fifty-fifty with all those luxuries, I wasn't happy. I was never satisfied, never present; I was so busy edifice the perfect life that I hadn't given myself the opportunity to really live it. I didn't realize something that, now, is so obvious: self-love and real, lasting happiness go together like JIF® creamy peanut butter and Smucker'due south® Squeeze™ grape jelly.

I vividly remember the moment I decided to change my life for the ameliorate. I was sitting on a bench in Union Square, having lunch with my lifelong friend, the Uncrustables® mascot, a vi-foot-tall, sealed, crustless Pb+J pocket with crimped edges, eyes, and blueish limbs. I offered Uncrustable a seize with teeth of my luncheon, like I always do: "Want a dip from my JIF-To-Go® flossy peanut butter cup? They're platonic to share with friends and family." Uncrustable does not speak, just gave me a await that communicated something I'll never forget: "You're always thinking of others," said my dear friend's wordless glance. "For once, why don't you share the JIF-To-Get® creamy peanut butter cup… with yourself?"

Those words from Uncrustable the Uncrustables® mascot lit a fire within me. I realized I'd spent and then much energy shirking self-love that I'd barricaded myself from joy. I'd covered my true cocky in a Smucker's® Magic Shell™ topping that had created a candy-coated shell over my emotions, simply like it does on ice cream: in under five seconds. I realized there was merely one spoon strong enough to cleft me open. And that spoon? Was me.

Alter didn't come up overnight. Equally they say, life isn't a Folger's® French Vanilla Instant Cappuccino Packet. Change comes in small increments, one ground of Folgers Classic Roast® coffee at a fourth dimension. Just I cultivated small changes in my life, and stuck with them. Before long enough, I had a 38.4oz canister of self-love stored up, and fix to brew in an instant.

I began by practicing mindfulness on a daily basis. I slowed down, got out of my head and took in the sights and sounds of the wild, weird, wonderful city around me. I'd been and then consumed about my career and the future that I never really smelled the magnolia outside my apartment, or actually listened to the church bells down the block, or stopped to talk to my bodega guy, Ronnie, who told me of a three-for-one promotion on Meow Mix® Paté Toppers® with existent whitefish topped with flakes of tuna now through June 30.

One of the hardest things I did on my journey was write a list of 10 things I loved about myself. My ex with whom I'm still close, Snaucrates the Snausages® dog, is a flake of a self-beloved philosopher himself, and insisted I endeavor information technology out. Now, I could write a million things I love nearly my friends, especially about Snaucrates. But, lovable things well-nigh me? I thought those were similar pineapple-flavored Snausages®: non-existent.

Simply I tried it out. I picked upwards what I thought was a pen but was really a Snaw Somes!™ beefiness and cheese stick (I practise non own a domestic dog). And then I picked up a real pen and started writing: I similar my hair. I like my sense of humor. I like the way my easily feel afterward I bathe them in Crisco® for 24 hours straight. Soon, I discovered a whole laundry list of things I loved near myself! There are almost every bit many great things almost me equally at that place are recognizable brands that fork over a portion of their almanac profits to their impressive and lucrative owners, the J.Thousand. Smucker Company.

I even created a mantra. Every morning, I await in the bathroom mirror and say, "I am a jar of Smucker'south® Orchard's Finest Cherry Tart Ruby-red Preserves. I am a premium line of all-natural snacks perfect for everything from brunch with the gals to Thanksgiving dinner. And I deserve to be treated as such." After 15 times or so, my partner inevitably knocks on the door and asks me if I'm doing "that thing" over again, and yous know what? I am. No shame.

Now, I thank myself every day. For the big things, like working hard enough to become that promotion; and the trivial things, similar brewing my Dunkin' At Domicile® coffee in the comfort of my own kitchen, instead of going through the hassle of buying it at a Dunkin'® location. I root for myself. I requite myself the space I need to really feel my emotions. I even spoil myself from time to time. (Trust me, your morning time vitamin tastes and then much amend inside a Pup-Peroni® Pill Pocket™!)

I know I'm not perfect at practicing self-love. Far from it! I withal have days where I get down on myself, where loving me for me seems less possible than zucchini bread sticking to a loaf pan that was thoroughly coated in Crisco® before usage. But all I can do is try my best. That'southward life. Or, as they'd say on the Smucker's® Canada website… c'est la vie.