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t's not an act or facade of love that I have for the Cheshire Cat. It is VERY real. I have a LOT of love, compassion and empathy in me to extend to others but I don't know how to extend it to myself. Hopefully with a lot of therapy and the love of cat, I will eventually get there.

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Thank you for pointing this out, AngelGirl. I was doubting myself, that I can express real love and compassion for others if I cannot love myself. Or am I just imitating what I see other people do?

Your message made me see that I am expressing real concern for others. In fact, I had contradicted myself -- I said I ask myself how I'd treat someone else in a similar situation to try to get a clue for how to show myself acceptance and compassion. So, obviously, I was interpreting those feelings for others as being real.

I too, come from that deep place of negative self-image, and I have been walking this path for 30 years!!!! It is a very long journey. There are many ways to sabotage oneself along the way. That's why the Forums are so great. Friends here can point out distorted thinking, as you just did for me.

So thank you, AngelGirl, for helping me to honor the caring part of myself as real.