I was not looking forward to Valentine’s Day. It would be another year without a sweetheart, no date, and absolutely no plans. Since there was no one to organize plans with except myself, I made the internal intention to just pretend that it wasn’t even going to take place…like it was any other day of the year. I had taken this practice on some other holidays and it seemed to work well for me. It helped me to not get all wrapped up in the sadness and stay positive.
A few days before Valentine’s Day I ran into my neighbor and good friend, Fay, who invited me to go out for Loving Yourself Day. She also was without a sweetheart or date but still felt celebrating the day. I absolutely fell in love with the idea. What an AH-MAZING way to look at it! That thought, that feeling completely shifts the negative connotation of not having a sweetheart to share the day with and also shifts the attention off singlehood and the other slogan “Single Awareness Day”.
It is a common phrase you hear now, to give yourself self~love. Even RuPaul says, “If you can’t love yourself, how in the hell you gonna be able to love someone else?”
It’s a difficult process to begin and to maintain until you get it right. We are our own worst enemy at times. Our constant negative chatter about all of our apparent flaws: weight, height, body shape, pimples, freckles, not funny enough, not smart enough, not enough money, etc. I don’t deserve this or that because of this or that. We can be so cruel to ourselves. And why?
Self~love, loving our self doesn’t even take much. It doesn’t even have to cost a little red penny. It just takes doing things for yourself that make you happy, things that bring you joy. Even things that you would like someone else to do for you. For me, some examples are walking on the beach, scrapbooking, and reading. Maybe for you it’s a bike ride, crocheting, painting, massage or jiu jitsu.
So on Loving Yourself Day I slept in a bit, worked out, took a long walk on the beach, got myself a caramel flan coffee, gave myself a manicure and pedicure and took a long Himalayan bath salt bath. I felt soo amazing! Fay and I decided to have candlelight snacks: cheese, crackers, grapes, carrots & celery w/hummus, chocolate and some champagne. Then we went to a local bar and listened to a really great blues/jazz band.
I’m not sure why I don’t do this more often, but I’m going to start. Try it…even if it’s one small thing once a week. You know how good it feels to receive a hug? It feels that good. So hug yourself a whole lot of love!!
