This is a hashtag that gained a lot of momentum on Twitter. Bethany Mota, a YouTube star, started it. She records videos about being bullied, and on Dancing with the Stars, she danced an anti-bullying dance. I don’t watch the show (don’t throw things at me), but that’s what I read.

The responses she got to this were very interesting. They included things like:

• I’ve changed to become a better person and I’m proud of me
• I’m open-minded
• I have great taste in music
• There is only one me
• I’m smart and beautiful
• I have nice hair
• I can eat an entire pizza by myself
• I’m an original
• I can see who people really are

I was prepared to get on my soap box and preach about loving yourself for all of the wrong reasons. And there were many of those, as outlined above. Let’s hope that some of them were kidding.

Among the responses, though, I did find some encouragement. These people love themselves because God loves them. And in the end, God loving us is the only reason we can love. Love our parents. Love our spouses. Love ourselves.

As I wrote about loving ourselves, I thought it might sound proud, selfish and egotistical. But I think we have to view it in the right light. I am worth something because I am created in God’s image. I am worth something because He saw me at my lowest point and loved me enough to send his Son to die for me. I am worth something because I am a child of God.

So, why do you love who you are?