Loving Myself as Though My Life Depends on It

I came across a quote by Anita Moorjani that stopped me in my tracks: 

“Self-love is not just about constantly giving yourself praise and telling yourself how awesome you are. It’s about loving the real you, the human you - the person who has feet of clay, who comes undone under criticism, who sometimes fails and disappoints others. It’s about making a commitment to yourself that you will stick by yourself - even if no one else does. That’s what I mean when I say you must love yourself as though your life depends on it, because quite simply, I know without a doubt that it does.”

This resonated so deeply with me because my own journey of healing has taught me that loving myself is not about perfection. It’s about presence and truth.

Last year, I went through one of the most painful seasons of my life. I experienced heartbreak of letting go of an old friendship that was so dear to me, and I lost trust in people who were so close to me. I also lost hope in ways that made me question everything. For a while, I felt broken like I had failed myself and others, like my flaws disqualified me from being loved. Under criticism or rejection, I would crumble inside, and in those moments, self-love felt out of reach.

But choosing to step into therapy changed everything. It became a space where I could unravel safely, where I learned to face my pain without shame. Week by week, I discovered that authenticity, being completely real with myself was the foundation of healing. I didn’t need to pretend to be strong all the time. I just needed to stay with myself, even when it was hard.

Art also became my therapy. With a brush in hand, I could pour out my emotions from grief, hope, anger, and joy onto canvas. Watercolors and acrylics carried the stories my heart couldn’t put into words. Painting taught me that beauty can emerge from brokenness, that colors can heal what words cannot.

Along the way, I’ve surrounded myself with people who value authenticity as much as I do. I’ve let go of the need for shallow connections and leaned into deep, truthful conversations. I’ve realized I no longer have to shrink or hide parts of myself just to belong.

Now, self-love is a promise I make to myself every day:

• To honor my feelings without rushing them away.

• To forgive myself when I stumble.

• To celebrate my growth, even in small steps.

• To stand by myself—even when no one else does.

Anita is right, our lives do depend on it. Because when we love ourselves as we are, with all our cracks and colors, we stop surviving and start living.

So if you need the reminder today like I often do, to let this be it: Love yourself as though your life depends on it. Because it truly does.

much love,

xoAi

Greece and the Art of Being Present

me at sunset

I just came back from a Greek vacation, and it was absolutely fantastic!
It felt amazing to escape the cold breeze of Poland and get far away from the hustle and bustle of city working life. Stepping out of the daily routine was such a refreshing change.

It was my first time in Greece something I’ve always dreamed of, as I’m sure many people do. We stayed in Kato Gouves, Crete, a truly lovely island for travelers seeking adventure under the sun.

Bucket list item: Visit Greece – check ✔️

here are some photos from that trip:

Limanaki beach

sunbeds and sunset

a small orthodox church from a hill overlooking the sea

love the seabreeze

Gouves has an amazing sunset

I went into this trip without expecting too much, but I did expect one thing: to rest and completely detach from social norms and the digital world. And I got exactly that. It was also my first time celebrating my birthday in Greece and I had a fantastic one! Just the four of us in the family, enjoying dinner together, sipping Raki… Aww, bliss.

This trip was also the perfect technology detox.

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5 Things I Learned on Vacation:

1. Privacy is a luxury
   Being in a foreign country, away from the people you usually see, is truly a gift. You don’t care what others think, what they say, or how they look at you. You stop worrying about opinions and simply live your own private life.

2. Rest is a must
   One of the main purposes of a vacation is rest like switching off that early-morning work alarm. There’s such pleasure in waking up naturally, letting your body decide when it’s ready. Long sleeps, cat naps, and zero guilt… it’s pure rejuvenation!

3. Digital detox is powerful
   Our brains age faster than we realize. Stress from work, social life, poor diet, and daily exposure to negativity can drain us. The digital world adds to that overload. Taking a break from social media nourishes the brain and frees us from the constant stream of online noise.

4. Family time is the best time
   Spending this vacation just with my family was priceless. It’s something I wouldn’t trade for anything. On any trip, family should come first always.

5. Eating local food deepens cultural understanding
   We always make it a point to try what the locals eat. It’s one of the best ways to explore a culture. The Greek diet is one of the finest in the Mediterranean with diverse, flavorful, and fresh. From seafood to meats, every bite was an experience.

6. Being in the nature like near the sea - is such a healing. It frees your mind of the negativities and like nature, it will put you back to focus. It is nurturing and has its healing magic. It puts you back into the right perspective to be just here - in the moment.

This trip left me feeling more present ready to take on the challenges of both work and my daily life at home. I returned rejuvenated, with a clearer vision of what I want to do next. It also gave me fresh inspiration for my art; in fact, I spent many moments doodling and painting, using Greece as my muse.

I now understand more deeply that privacy, especially digital privacy is such a gift. Disconnecting from the online world allows you to reconnect with what truly matters: the people and moments in front of you. I learned that you don’t have to chase the latest trends you see online; what’s truly important is being present in your own life.

And in that presence, you find space for clarity, gratitude, and inspiration. You notice the colors of the sunset, the sound of laughter at the dinner table, the taste of food made with love. You start living with intention, choosing experiences over algorithms, and real conversations over endless scrolling.

So take that much-needed vacation whether it’s somewhere far or just nearby. As long as it pulls you away from your usual routine. Step out, slow down, and savor the joy of simply being present.

until then...

much love,

xoAi

The greater your trial, the greater your victory!

Spring of 2015/Poland

Too often, people only believe what they want to believe. 

The greater your trial, the greater your victory. 

In life you will face disappointments and face adversity when your desires and dreams don't follow through. You choose to settle when things don't go as plan. Allowing one disappointment to affect your entire attitude and choose to live defeated, depressed, upset, and miserable. That's not God's plan. You have to get up! If all you're doing is praying and not doing something, you're wasting time and nothing is going to change or be given to you. The mountain can only be moved by faith not by sitting. You have to make up in your mind that " I shall live and not die..." I'm getting up out of this. I'm determined I'm going to press on. I'm going to fight my way through declaring His promises over my life while walking by faith and know that it's not the end because I know I'm walking into another thing God has in store for me.