‘I Am Love’ children’s book celebrates the power of words and affirmations

‘I Am Love’ by Terri McMenamin, reminds children of how wonderful they truly are and helps empower them through positive words, thoughts and self love.

Terri is originally from Derry and now lives in Muff, where she also runs Muff Barbers. After spending some time in America and Australia, where she wrote and self published the book ‘I Am Love’ she returned to Ireland for a break last year.

While at home, she created children’s workshops inspired by the book and they were such a huge success, she packed up her life abroad and returned home.

While the motivating workshops, which included yoga, activities and affirmations, among other activities, had to be suspended due to Covid 19 regulations, the popularity of the book has not waned.

Speaking to the Journal, Terri said she wanted to teach children about the importance of how they speak to themselves.

“There is a big problem these days with mental health, but if we can teach these children in early childhood about feelings, the power that they have to recognise and redirect them and that every feeling is ok, it can have a huge impact as they grow.

“There is so much scientific research into the power of words. What we speak to ourselves can either empower or disempower us. The words we use are extremely important. We are constantly in our own thoughts. 65,000 thoughts run through our mind each day and while we may not be able to control them, we can choose which ones we listen to. This is huge for positive mental health. We can ask ourselves: ‘Is this thought serving me? How about if I speak a little more kindly and gently to myself?’

Terri told how starting your week, day, afternoon and evening with positive affirmations, is ‘proven to motivate, inspire, uplift and enhance those feel good feelings.’

And the book, ‘I Am Love’ embraces this, in a colourful and child-friendly way. The animal on the cover is a giraffe and the book tells childre: ‘Just like a giraffe, you can reach great heights - I am Love.’ Each page includes a different, positive affirmation for the child to embrace and carry with them.

‘I Am Love’ is on sale at Little Acorns Book Shop and at The Gatelodge in Derry and at Muff Barbers.

You can also order the book and see reviews from the children who have already read it at the Facebook page ‘I am Love Book.’

Meanwhile, Terri was also busy over Christmas raising funds for the Foyle Hospice. She held a draw for a chance, at five euro a ticket, to win a year’s supply of haircuts and it too, was a big success. The draw raised 570 euro for the hospice.