Dr Laura Lowery's Blog

In my last few posts, I have been discussing my child’s eating disorder and my disordered eating, and how I have realized that I will better serve my child if I can figure out how to better nourish myself. And it just so happened that I came across this writing from Rabbi Yisrael ben Ze’ev Wolf Lipkin (1809–83):

“When I was a young man, I wanted to change the world. I found it difficult to change the world, so I tried to change my nation. 

When I found I couldn’t change the nation, I began to focus on my town. 

I couldn’t change the town, so, as an older man, I tried to change my family.

Now as an older man, I realize that the only thing I can change is myself. 

And suddenly I realize that if, long ago, I had changed myself, I could have made an impact on my family. 

My family could have made an impact on our town. 

The town’s impact could have changed the nation, and I could indeed have changed the world.”

So on Valentine’s Day today, I hope that you will think about how you can express love for yourself, in addition to the others in your life that you love.