You. This column is about you, about self-love. We hear about it, how it can be the first step to getting better, how it can change your life. But loving yourself is easier said than done.

Self-love: noun. Regard for one’s own well-being and happiness.

Different people have different ways of coming to peace with themselves. Whether it be through music, art or even exercise, getting to know even the deepest corners of yourself is something that we’ll be faced with eventually, so might as well make it on your own terms. For me, I try by helping others. Not necessarily by volunteering, though that happens on occasion, it’s more of cheering that person up and trying to make them laugh. Laughter is the key to happiness and by making others laugh, it also brings a smirk to your face that can’t leave until the joke fades, and even then there’s still the memory.

After reading Shakespeare’s play “As You Like It”, and performing “Into the Woods,” I’ve become attached to forests and nature in general. But it’s not the plants that I’m attached to, it’s the sense of self you get out there. When you’re truly alone with yourself, you learn things about yourself, that you didn’t even knew bothered you.

There are some things about our physical bodies, that no matter how hard we try, we cannot change. And that’s one of the things we need to learn to accept and love. The little flaws, from the annoying dimples you get when you smile, to the way your eyes crinkle when you laugh. How you have too many freckles in one place or a birthmark you try to hide. There are going to be things about ourselves that we don’t like and wish we could change, but it’s accepting those parts of ourselves that really let you flourish.