Many people have a love / hate relationship with Valentine's Day, which I totally get. I've spent Valentine's Day sipping champagne and eating chocolate covered strawberries with a loved one and I've also spent it dressed in all black at Red Lobster with friends swearing off men. I've groaned at the first signs of Valentine's Day paraphernalia, but I've also spent a significant amount of time searching for the perfect gift. This holiday is unique because how we celebrate it and how we feel about it is often reflective of our current relationship status and how secure we feel within that status. In recent years, I've begun to see it a little differently. Valentine's Day, to me, is simply a celebration of love and who's to say what kind of love that is. Love is the purest, most sacred, and most beautiful form of expression and why not take this as an opportunity to celebrate that? This is a great time to reflect on those in your life who mean the most to you and it's also a time to think about the most important relationship in your life, which is the one you have with yourself.
I will always jump at the chance to talk about self-love, because I firmly believe it is what dictates our reality. How we feel about ourselves is reflected back to us in our day-to-day interactions, our lifestyle choices, our relationships, and our acceptance of the world around us, so it's always good to improve on our relationship with ourselves. This Valentine's Day let love into your life by choosing thoughts, actions, relationships, situations, and environments that mirror a high-level of respect, love, and positivity because you are worth that.
5 Ways to Enjoy Valentine's Day No Matter What Your Relationship Status Is:
1. Do something special for you:
Fill yourself up with love so that it oozes out of you into the people and world around you. Once you're full, you have so much more to give. Take the time out of your day to do something just for you. Take a bath, read a book, go for a walk, grab a drink with a friend, cook yourself a nice meal, get a massage, go to a movie, whatever it is make sure it's something you enjoy.
2. Express your love:
As far as I'm concerned, life is too damn short to not say the good things we think about people. Sometimes it feels vulnerable and uncomfortable to express how much we care about people, but it's time to get over it. Compliment someone, tell that someone special just what makes them special, thank your parents, thank your kids, tell someone they're beautiful, spread positivity in anyway you can. This is a powerful and quick way to feel amazing.
3. Celebrate Valentine's Day with more than your partner:
Say "I love you" to anyone special in your life. My parents have always given us Valentines and it always has meant a lot. It always feels good to share love with friends, family, and significant others.
4. Indulge:
My love for food makes any holiday an excuse to treat myself or try something new. Whether it's takeout, your favorite chocolate, that expense Kombucha Beer you always want to buy (this obviously is on my list), or creating something beautiful for yourself to eat, take some time to indulge in something you love.
5. Reflect:
Like I said earlier, this is a great time to go within and take account of the love in your life. Not in the way that leaves you curled up with a bottle of wine and a box of kleenex, but in a way that empowers and inspires you to continue to deepen your sense of self-worth and bring positivity into places that may need some. It's also a great time to reflect on the journey that has taken you this far and to be grateful for all the lessons and greatness in your life.
