Born in 1889, he grew up in London where struggled with poverty throughout his childhood until he was signed by the Kano Company and sent to the US to perform. The rest is history.
After having to leave the USA in the 1940s, Charlie Chaplin settled in Switzerland where he died in the late 70s at the age of 88. I’ve recently discovered a poem written by him on his 70th birthday.
As I Began to Love Myself – Self Love Poem by Charlie Chaplin
As I began to love myself I found that anguish and emotional suffering
are only warning signs that I was living against my own truth.
Today, I know, this is “AUTHENTICITY.”
As I began to love myself I understood how much it can offend somebody
As I try to force my desires on this person, even though I knew the time
was not right and the person was not ready for it and, even though, this person was me.
Today I call it “RESPECT.”
As I began to love myself I stopped craving for a different life,
and I could see that everything that surrounded me was inviting me to grow.
Today I call it “MATURITY.”
As I began to love myself I understood that at any circumstance,
I am in the right place at the right time, and everything happens
at the exactly right moment. So I could be calm.
Today I call it “SELF-CONFIDENCE.”
As I began to love myself I quit stealing my own time,
and I stopped designing huge projects for the future.
Today, I only do what brings me joy and happiness, things I love to do
and that makes my heart cheer, and I do them in my own way and in
my own rhythm.
Today I call it “SIMPLICITY.”
As I began to love myself I freed myself of anything that is no good for
my health – food, people, things, situations, and everything that drew
me down and away from myself. At first, I called this attitude
a healthy egoism.
Today I know it is “LOVE OF ONESELF.”
As I began to love myself I quit trying to always be right, and ever since
I was wrong less of the time.
Today I discovered that is “MODESTY.”
As I began to love myself I refused to go on living in the past and worry
about the future. Now, I only live for the moment, where EVERYTHING
is happening.
Today I live each day, day by day, and I call it “FULFILMENT.”
As I began to love myself I recognized that my mind can disturb me
and it can make me sick. But As I connected it to my heart, my
mind became a valuable ally.
Today I call this connection “WISDOM OF THE HEART.”
We no longer need to fear arguments, confrontations, or any kind of problems
with ourselves or others. Even stars collide, and out of their crashing new worlds are born.
Today I know “THAT IS LIFE!”
Awesome poem, isn’t? Make sure to share in the comments below how would your poem look if you had to write it now by looking back on your life.
Cheers!