"When I Really Begin to Love Myself" is a poem written by Chaplin on April 16, 1959, on his 70th birthday. Chaplin was known for his comical image on the screen, but his childhood was overshadowed by a strong sense of loneliness, and he was only noticed in acting at the age of 24 and began his film career. He chose to use movies and women to cover up the loneliness in his heart. In his twilight years, he faded all his lead and chose to return to his true nature. This poem expresses his optimistic, open-minded and peaceful attitude towards life.
When I really started to love myself
When I really started to love myself, I realized that all the pain and emotional torture was just a reminder that my life was a departure from who I really was. Today, I understand that this is called "real."
When I really started to love myself, I realized how offensive it was when I imposed my will on someone, even then I knew that the time was not yet ripe and that person was not ready, even if that person was me. Today I understand that this is called "respect."
When I started to truly love myself, I no longer wanted a different life, and I understood that anything that happened to me was an invitation to my growth. Today, I call it "maturity."
When I started to really love myself, I realized that I was always in the right place, at the right time, and in the right place, and everything happened just right. From this, I was able to calm down. Today, I call it "self-confidence."
When I began to truly love myself, I stopped squandering my life and time, and I stopped trying to draw a magnificent future. Today, I only do what brings me joy and happiness, do what I love and that inspire my heart, in my own unique way, at my own pace. Today I know that this is called "simple".
When I started to really love myself, I started to stay away from all the unhealthy things, whether it was food, people, things, or circumstances, and everything that was holding me back and turning me away from my true self. I used to call this "wholesome egoism." Today I know that this is actually "self-love".
When I started to really love myself, I stopped trying to be right all the time, and from then on, I made fewer mistakes. Now I find that it is "humility."
When I began to truly love myself, I stopped dwelling on the past and stopped worrying about tomorrow. Now, I'm just living in the moment where it's happening. Today, I live in the here and now, day after day, and I call this "consummation."
When I really began to love myself, I realized that my thoughts were disturbing me and making me uninteresting. But when I connect with my heart, the power of my heart becomes my solid backing. Today I call this connection "the wisdom of the heart."
We no longer need to be afraid of arguments, conflicts, or any other problems that arise with us or with others. Because even the stars collide at times, and from their collision, new worlds will be born. Today I know that this is "life"!
As I Began to Love Myself
As I began to love myself I found that anguish and emotional suffering are only warning signs that I was living against my own truth. Today, I know, this is AUTHENTICITY.
As I began to love myself I understood how much it can offend somebody as I try to force my desires on this person, even though I knew the time was not right and the person was not ready for it, and even though this person was me. Today I call it RESPECT.
As I began to love myself I stopped craving for a different life, and I could see that everything that surrounded me was inviting me to grow. Today I call it MATURITY.
As I began to love myself I understood that at any circumstance, I am in the right place at the right time, and everything happens at the exactly right moment, so I could be calm. Today I call it SELF-CONFIDENCE.
As I began to love myself I quit stealing my own time, and I stopped designing huge projects for the future. Today, I only do what brings me joy and happiness, things I love to do and that make my heart cheer, and I do them in my own way and in my own rhythm. Today I call it SIMPLICITY.
As I began to love myself I freed myself of anything that is no good for my health – food, people, things, situations, and everything that drew me down and away from myself. At first I called this attitude a healthy egoism. Today I know it is LOVE OF ONESELF.
As I began to love myself I quit trying to always be right, and ever since I was wrong less of the time. Today I discovered that is MODESTY.
As I began to love myself I refused to go on living in the past and worry about the future. Now, I only live for the moment, where EVERYTHING is happening. Today I live each day, day by day, and I call it FULFILLMENT.
As I began to love myself I recognized that my mind can disturb me and it can make me sick. But As I connected it to my heart, my mind became a valuable ally. Today I call this connection WISDOM OF THE HEART.
We no longer need to fear arguments, confrontations or any kind of problems with ourselves or others. Even stars collide, and out of their crashing new worlds are born. Today I know THAT IS LIFE!