*I’m sharing this because it’s been too long since I’ve read Alice in Wonderland, and because it feels right, true, and authentic, this snippet of conversation between two fictional characters. And, there’s the significant presence of the white rabbit in The Matrix films, which I love – but a white rabbit is seen throughout many different cultures. The Chinese tradition is that a white rabbit signifies longevity; in Celtic mythology, the sight of a white rabbit meant good luck, especially when beginning a new endeavor. The Druids believed that white rabbits were spirit guides predicting success or, conversely, warning of complications and challenges ahead. In Christianity, white rabbits are connected to Easter – symbolizing renewal and hope, and in some Native American cultures, rabbits – whatever the color – represent fear, that frozen in place immobility that has bedeviled me when driving (do I go around?, do I just go straight?!) in rural America. Self-love – trusting yourself and knowing that you can handle ‘it’ (a.k.a. life, and whatever it throws at you) – as well as just plain old fashioned appreciation for yourself warts and all is essential. YES.
Do you love Me? Alice asked.
No, I don’t love you! replied the White Rabbit.
Alice frowned and clasped her hands together as she did whenever she felt hurt.
See? replied the White Rabbit.
Now you’re going to start asking yourself what makes you so imperfect and what did you do wrong so that I can’t love you at least a little.
You know, that’s why I can’t love you.
You will not always be loved Alice, there will be days when others will be tired and bored with life, will have their heads in the clouds, and will hurt you.
Because people are like that, they somehow always end up hurting each other’s feelings, whether through carelessness, misunderstanding, or conflicts with themselves.
If you don’t love yourself, at least a little, if you don’t create an armor of self-love and happiness around your heart, the feeble annoyances caused by others will become lethal and will destroy you.
The first time I saw you I made a pact with myself: “I will avoid loving you until you learn to love yourself.”
– Lewis Carroll