Through the darkness I will love myself

<p><em style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Through the darkness I will love myself</em><span style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> is an anthology written in response to and inspired by BTS' Love Yourself era. BTS are a seven member K-pop group from Seoul South Korea who debuted in 2013. Since then they have become one of the most influential artists of the decade. </span></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>This book exists to show the lasting impact of BTS' trilogy of albums </span><em style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Love Yourself: Her </em><span style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>(2017)</span><em style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> Love Yourself: Tear </em><span style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>(2018) and </span><em style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Love Yourself: Answer </em><span style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>(2018); subsequent tours of Love Yourself (2018-2019) and Speak Yourself (2019); BTS' Love Myself campaign to end violence towards children with UNICEF and; BTS' speech at the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly in 2018 where leader RM said: I have many faults and I have many fears but I am going to embrace myself as hard as I can and I'm starting to love myself little by little.</span></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>The message of self-love woven throughout BTS' work has deeply and profoundly impacted the lives and experiences of their fan base ARMY. </span><em style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Through the darkness I will love myself</em><span style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> is a testament to how BTS' message lives on to this day and is interpreted in a multitude of unique ways by each contributor from around the world. </span></p><p><br></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>BTS say Love yourself but what exactly does that mean? What self-love is can be hard to define and often even harder to practice. </span><em style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Through the darkness I will love myself</em><span style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> is a collection of creative works from 18 writers and poets all ARMY that seeks to examine what self-love and self-hate looks and feels like. </span></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Channelling lived-experience through characters prose and redacted lines this book doesn't aim to define self-love it shows self-love and self-hate as a never-ending journey towards self-actualisation. From moments of joy to the depths of despair each contributor shares a unique perspective that speaks to a universal truth: the only way to survive whatever darkness we may be facing is to go right through the middle one step at a time. </span></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Self-love isn't a destination it exists and permeates through the darkness alongside us in every moment of the journey. It exists on the other side of self-hate and often there is a give and take one which is encapsulated within these pages. </span><em style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Through the darkness I will love myself</em><span style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> is a letter to the world: loving yourself isn't easy but let's try anyway. One step at a time into the darkness once more together.</span></p><p><br></p>