From the moment a child is born, they crave touch. They want to be held, not just to eat, but for safety, for warmth, for comfort, for affection–for love. A newborn will show preference in who they want to be held by, especially when they’re tired or sick or scared. We are born ready to be loved. Our first need is to be cared for, to be fed and changed, and held. To learn that we are loved.

Don’t let anyone, anyone tell you have to be able to love yourself before you can be loved. You were born ready to be loved wholly, and having self-esteem issues or a mental illness doesn’t make you any less lovable.

You don’t need to fulfill any condition. You are worth loving. You deserve to be loved, and have deserved to be loved since the moment you were born. You are worth loving.