As a young girl, I often avoided looking at myself in the mirror. I did not fit the beauty ideal of the time. And then there was the whole spending a year in a body cast after scoliosis surgery. I struggled seeing the good, inside or out.

During that time, I was introduced to the idea of affirmations -- saying something kind to myself, even if I didn’t yet believe it. At the beginning, all I could come up with was “I like your ears, kid.” It was something.

But over the years, I have used affirmations each and every day as part of my morning routine. Brush my
teeth, wash my face, and remind myself of something good about me. For the last year, that has meant reminding myself to move through my day with gratitude. Or simply remembering that I love myself. It's been a life-long process.

I teach a Gratitude Meditation class each week here in Los Angeles. And this line of hoodies grew from sharing my Mirror Meditations practice with my students. I share it here in hopes that each of us remembers to be good to ourselves. We all deserve that.