Why this “one day a year” gets under my skin.
Before you make the conclusion that I’m a Debbie Downer around Valentine’s Day, let me explain.
No matter what your romantic status, Valentine’s Day can either be really awesome and special, or it can leave you feeling a little more blue than pink & red. For some of us it’s a fun day to show our love for others, or a day when we allow ourselves to be spoiled and pampered by a special someone. And for others it’s a day when you become acutely aware of the gap between where your love quotient IS and where you’d LIKE it to be. It can be a lot of pressure and expectation with all this focus on love!
In any case, here’s my beef with this annual day of love: Why is it just one day a year? Why not shower OURSELVES with love and attention every day? It comes back to this idea of Exquisite Self Care that I have been pondering. What this means is that rather than waiting for something or someone outside of you to give you love, rather than only celebrating your awesomeness on a few select days of the year (your birthday, V-Day, Mother’s Day, etc.), why not give yourself the 5-Star treatment and create some romance in your life every day?
One thing I’ve learned throughout my life, marriage, divorce, financial stress, career change, struggle with food, etc. (yeah, it’s been a little bumpy), is that when I am loving on myself, life is SO much better in every way. When I look back on times when I’ve felt empty, sad, unsupported, lacking, longing, less-than, etc., I can see that all of those times I was depriving myself of my OWN love and care.
When I turn on the self-love switch, it’s like night and day. More love comes into my life from every direction. Cuz, you know, like attracts like.
So here are a few tips and ideas to help you give yourself that 5-Star experience and up your love quotient not just February 14th, but every darn day of the year!
Think of Yourself as a VIP. How would a VIP be treated at a luxury resort? Is that how you are talking to and treating yourself? If not, time to up your game! Whether it’s taking a few minutes of quiet time each day, fueling your body with healthy, whole foods and hydration (and let’s not forget taking TIME to enjoy your meals), or treating yourself to little gifts and experiences, give yourself that white glove service on a regular basis. And most importantly, speak to yourself with love and respect.
Create Your 5-Star Environment. As human beings we are wired to model our environment (our physical environment and the peeps we hang out with). So does your environment lift your energy up or bring it down? Look for simple ways to create a 5-Star experience in your surroundings every day – it doesn’t have to cost a lot of money! Simple things like trading those old everyday granny panties for some silky new ones, using the good china, keeping fresh flowers on your desk or nightstand, filling your home with a lovely scent, or cultivating relationships with positive, inspiring people can do wonders for your vitality and add some daily romance to your life.
Gaze Into Your Lover’s Eyes. (That lover being YOU of course!) They say the eyes are the window to the soul, and when you are in need of connection there is no better place to look than into your own heart of hearts. It may feel a little odd at first, but take a moment each day to look yourself in the eyes in the mirror and give yourself a compliment, an acknowledgement, maybe even some forgiveness. Go ahead, say it out loud, “{!firstname}, you’re doing great, you are beautiful and I love and accept you!”
Go On A Love Harvest. That’s right. Start to look all around you in your daily life and notice every occurrence of love that you experience. A phone call or text from a friend, an invitation to a gathering, a thank you from your boss, even a smile from a stranger. And notice things that YOU love too! When you start to really pay attention you’ll be surprised at how much love is all around you. It’s especially fun to keep a little journal for a few days and watch the love pile up!
From here on out let’s make EVERY day Valentine’s Day!
