Self-love, soul love, and something kind of wild

What if choosing yourself opened the door to everything else?

Lately I’ve been sitting with a humbling, somewhat magical truth about true love existing.

I’m a devoted believer in self-love—not as a buzzword, but as a radical, sacred act. Honoring my experience. Respecting my needs. Learning to put myself first in a way that used to feel selfish... but is actually the most generous thing I can do for myself and everyone around me.

Because no one else lives in my body. No one else carries my memories, my emotions, my intuition. No one else can advocate for me the way I can.

And yet—even as I deepen into this practice of being my own home—I’ve found myself in a love story I never thought possible. A relationship that is joyful and healing and fun and wildly aligned. A partnership with someone who meets me as me. Not as who I thought I had to be.

Byron is the man of my dreams in a way I still can’t fully comprehend. He’s perceptive, intuitive, playful, creative, strong, soulful, and everything I used to only imagine in secret. And our love didn’t happen after I had finally figured out self-love perfectly—it grew alongside it. Through the messiness, the practice, the devotion to choosing me so that he's not responsible for making me feel worthy and vice versa.

So here’s what I want to tell you:

Self-love is the greatest love of all. AND…Your desire for real connection, for shared joy, for building a life with someone (or someones, or a creative community, or animals, or the Earth herself)— that is the most wondrous love of all.

Choosing sacred self-love doesn't mean you resign yourself to a solo journey. Instead, you're making room for people who see you, celebrate you, and build alongside you.

I’m living proof that you don’t have to choose between sacred self-honoring and soul-aligned partnership.

And now, for something a little fun and full-circle...

We’re (possibly?!) America’s Favorite Couple 💫

On a total whim, Byron entered us into a national competition for “America’s Favorite Couple.” It’s part fundraiser (supporting the Food Bank and Oceana), part celebration of love stories—and somehow, we’re getting close to #1 in our group!

Voting is free on Facebook once per day through September 4! 💛 Click here to vote for us daily 💛 Or donate $1 = 1 vote to support the Food Bank or Oceana (look out for days that have 2x voting!)

If our story has inspired you, or if you believe in self-love and true love, we’d be honored by your support.

Thank you for witnessing our joy.

With love,

Dr. Steph