SELF-LOVE AT ITS FINEST

After reading the section from Serving in Florida we were assigned in class, one statement really stuck with me. When Ehrenreich stated that the "only thing people have to call their own is the tumors they are nourishing and the spare moments they devote to feeding them," I thought it was an extremely interesting way of explaining smoking.

We all have the destructive habits that we constantly indulge ourselves in, whether it be playing a video game for too long or wasting time on our phones. Smoking can be seen as a twisted form of  "self-love;" smokers are regularly taking time out of their day to do something for themselves, even though it harms them in the long run. After a hard day, they reward themselves with a cigarette which calms their nerves and makes them feel good immediately; in a way, the act is extremely familiar. In no way am I defending smokers or condoning the act, but the more I think about it, the more relatable it becomes.

I, being an impulsive teenager, go on my phone pretty often to procrastinate or waste time, an act that give me instant gratification but ultimately hurts me. Although I know about the problem, the satisfaction browsing my phone gives me is definitely addictive. I definitely devote my spare moments towards it.You could argue that using my phone is a form of self-love; it's something that makes me happy and by doing so, I'm loving myself. But like smoking, the benefits are only temporary.

Other bad habits may not seem as bad as smoking, but that time and your health will never be regained. Committing myself to self-love in its purest form would be to restrict myself from the addictive nature of my phone, making life easier for future me. It's definitely easier written than done, but harmful habits disguised as "self-love" are worth changing.