Be Your Own Valentine Today!

A trip to the store where everything seems to have red or pink hearts on it may suggest that Valentine’s Day is just about romantic relationships, into whatever category those might fall. Don’t get me wrong, I love Valentine’s. I think it’s an extraordinary holiday, but I want to empower you if you’re single. See, Valentine’s is about celebrating love -not just romantic. It also includes showing love to your friends and family, cherishing them, and letting them know how much they mean to you. How truly blessed you are to have them in your life.

I’ve learned that our relationship with ourselves might in fact, be the most important relationship in which we’re invested. So if you don’t have a Valentine today, you can be your own! Loving and accepting others is a beautiful thing. Sometimes it hardly takes any effort! When you love and accept yourself just as you are, that might be the greatest act of love, compassion, and self-respect you’ll ever do. Maybe this Valentine’s Day is your ticket! Apart from remembering your friends and family, don’t forget to do something special for yourself. Show yourself some love! Some ideas:

Celebrate who you are. Think of your finest qualities. The things you like and admire about yourself. What are you good at? We’re quick to celebrate others and find great attributes in them, but why is it so hard to do when it’s us? Also, be grateful for what’s good in your life today, for all you’ve accomplished so far and all the challenges you’ve been able to overcome.

Do something fun. Allow yourself to do what you’ve been putting off. Treat yourself to a home spa, a hot bath, a good book, a walk, or whatever you love doing. Maybe having this evening to yourself can slow you down for a meaningful relaxing time. I’m sure your mind and soul will thank you too. How about that movie or new series you’ve been wanting to watch? Would any of your friends want to watch it with you? Get some of your favorite treats, and go for it!

Right now, you might be thinking -this seems really out there! I get it. Sometimes the last person we want to hang with is ourselves. But what if you could give yourself a chance to show self-love? Not loving ourselves feels so familiar it might even be a default setting! We do so much, take care of so many around us -and yet we never feel good enough! -Why do we do this to ourselves? Does it even work? Could it help in any way? -Thank you! Of course not! Maybe we should try self-love and acceptance for better results.

Enjoy who you are. See, there’s no one else quite like you -for real. Celebrating and loving yourself for who you are is not vanity; it’s more like respect for who you were created to be. And finding strength in being comfortable with who you are will give you the confidence to be able to love others in a more meaningful way. -How can we love others if we struggle to love ourselves? Remember to think of how unique, extraordinary, beautiful, smart, resourceful, and hardworking you are. -What other qualities can you add to your list? Be nice!

I hope your Valentine’s Day is beautifully original and meaningful in celebrating yourself and those you love. Self-love, self-respect, and self-appreciation are vital to feeling good about ourselves. They help us move forward with confidence, be brave, give ourselves another chance, forgive ourselves, love ourselves more, and most importantly, honor who we are.

Who knows? Today might be the best Valentine’s Day yet!

All my best,

Maria A. Mansfield

Author and Life Coach

Life is Worth Getting Better

Honoring Your Recovery

Tu vida merece que te mejores