A Poem by Alison Ramirez

"Love yourself I say to me
It's the only way you will be free
Free from the despair
Free to find a way to care
As imperfect as I am
I really need to give a damn
Although I'm not what I wish I was
I have become my favorite cause
Loving myself means to me
That I love all that I see
My diseases and imperfections
Are just part of the compilation
There is also the caring soul
That wants only to be whole
Loving me means I see
A person is what they are meant to be
It is my inner voice
That makes the choice
To set myself free
By always loving me"
Allison Ramirez
06/13/2015

Ilana Estelle is a mental health and wellbeing advocate who combines educational insight with her personal experience of living with physical, mental, and emotional disabilities. She holds diplomas in Counselling, Diet and Nutrition, Nutritional Therapy, Psychotherapy and Counselling, and Stress Management. Through her writing, Ilana supports others in navigating their emotional, mental, and physical health challenges. In addition to writing for The CP Diary, her work has appeared in healthy lifestyle magazines. Ilana is also the author of three books: Cerebral Palsy: A Story – Finding the Calm After the Storm, Spirituality, Healing and Me, and Survival: The Covid Years – Time for Change.

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