Brian’s Reflection: Monday, October 15, 2007


I have an everyday religion that works for me. Love
yourself first, and everything else falls into line.

- Lucille Ball. “I Love Lucy” debuted on TV
on this day, 1951


Can you believe it?!! I can’t really hoist it in. Fifty-six years ago! I was five years old. But I wouldn’r have missed I Love Lucy for anything. That one room flat with the door into the kitchen. Ricky’s carrying on and his Baba-Loo. Grumpy Fred and Ethel the perfect foil for Lucy. But Lucy best of all - with all those wild schemes and her perfect timing. They are eternal – they are hilarious and bang on today. I love Lucy most because she was always up for a crazy adventure. So am I!

Whatever else Lucille Ball may have meant by her comment on her “everyday religion”, she is, I think, on the money about loving yourself. However you get there - and most of us probably have/had a hard time of it! - we must get there if we are ever going to be able truly and authentically to love beyond ourselves.

I’ve known a lot of people who were brought up to believe that they had to love others, and/or God, first, and to “forget” themselves. They might have done helpful, or caring, or kind things, but I suspect that it never becomes authentic Love until they also love themselves. Unless you love yourself, or have been shown that you can love yourself, you are never playing with a full deck. And if you will pardon the mixed metaphor, love of self clears the deck for a generosity of self-giving that nothing else can fully match.

And besides, Love takes bravery and freedom - and it is often a very brave and freeing thing to love yourself. When we do, “everything else falls into line”.

Brian+