Why You Should “Love Yourz” (Inspired by J. Cole)

Cover art for J. Cole’s third studio album, “2014 Forest Hills Drive.” “Love Yourz” was the fourth single off the album.

“No such thing as a life that’s better than yours. No such thing, no such thing.” So said rapper J. Cole in his 2016 single, “Love Yourz.”

Upon hearing that, the average person could say, ‘Wait a second, there is a life that’s better than mine somewhere. Somebody out there isn’t dealing with what I’m dealing with. I’d be way better off in someone else’s shoes.’  And while each of us have our own personal struggles to combat, we shouldn’t be quick to think that the next man or woman is problem-free. On the surface, a person’s life may appear perfect, but looks are deceiving. The reality is – everybody in the world is going through something. It could be financial issues, health concerns, relationship drama, family squabbles, low self-esteem or other inward battles, and the list goes on and on.

So although the person next to you may not be going through the exact same thing you are, he or she could very well be dealing with something that you want no parts of or just might have some undesirable personality traits.  Quite honestly, you may be so intent on stepping into another’s shoes that you don’t realize how much a person may want to step into yours.  So really, you should love yourz.

As J. Cole alluded to in his song, we live in a society where we’re encouraged to aspire to be like Hollywood stars, the people who are supposed to be “perfect.”  But…while their lives might appear to be full of glits and glamour, celebrities have just as many – and sometimes more – issues than the common person who doesn’t have cameras following them everywhere they go.  How many times do we read of someone undergoing plastic surgery to alter their anatomy in some way because they’re dissatisfied with their current appearance?  How many times do we hear of someone having a nervous breakdown because the pressure from everyone around was just too much?  How many times do we hear of famous individuals relying on drugs and other harmful substances to cope with deep-seated emotional issues?  How many times do we hear of someone raking in millions then almost losing it all because of careless attitudes and money mismanagement?  Too many times to count.  So why exactly would we need to be like them?  There’s really no reason at all.

And even for the people we see everyday around us who are not celebrities, we may tend to only see their admirable qualities and ignore their flaws, but that need not be the case.  We need to look in the mirror and accept ourselves, “flaws and all,” like the Beyonce song says.  I once heard someone say, ‘You can’t be someone else because he or she is already taken.’

In conclusion, then, it’s best that you love yourz.  It’s best that I love mine.  It’s best that you – the person reading this – stop and take a moment to be proud of the good that you possess rather than ignoring it and believing that others are far superior.

So, even if you don’t have the body shape you want just yet, love yourz.

If your hair is more tedious to care for than others around you, love yourz.

If your skin isn’t as smooth as you would like, love yourz.

If your job is not giving you the break you feel you deserve, love yourz.

If life seems to be going a bit haywire, hang in there and love yourz!

You have to LOVE YOU!

P.S.  The majority of this post had been sitting my drafts for far too long.  Maybe I didn’t think it was good enough or what, but whatever the reason, it wasn’t valid.  My work is good enough because I put my heart in it.  So I share it with you.  LOVE YOURZ!