Happy (Self-) Love Day

I'm going to keep this short and sweet, so you can enjoy your day (of love.) Recently, I've been thinking a lot about the importance of self-love. Maybe it's because I've been reflecting on where I was a year ago: packing up my belongings from the house I had lived in with my ex during the prior year. I had just ended our 2 1/2-year relationship, and he wanted me out of his house ASAP. Snowstorm (or lack of housing) be damned. On Valentine's Day, I received the keys to a new apartment and vividly remember looking around that apartment and thinking it looked like how I felt: empty. I know what you're thinking - How romantic. But in a way, it was.

The relationship I ended one year ago was (in various ways) causing me to doubt myself and my self-worth and to love myself less. I regret to admit, that at times I even hated myself. It had completely eroded my relationship with myself. And I decided (on February 10th to be exact) to put a stop to that erosion. For the first time in a long time, I decided to choose myself.

I know it sounds cheesy, but the relationship that you have with yourself is invaluable, and you should protect it at all costs. If someone (or something) is intentionally and consistently, making you feel bad about yourself or causing you to love yourself less, through words and/or actions - you should pay attention. And strongly consider removing that person (or thing) from your life.

After an intense and emotionally draining breakup, I embarked on a full-on healing journey, part of which included reestablishing my connection to myself. I filled my day with activities that brought me joy and also surrounded myself with people who cared about me, and who helped me understand and love myself more, not less.

I know that Galentines and Valentine's Day are typically reserved for friendship and romantic love, but lest we forget about the love that often needs to precede receiving external love - self-love. Take yourself on dates, buy yourself the damn flowers. Because if we don't love (and understand) ourselves, how can we expect others to love us for us?

P.S. Loving yourself is also a great safeguard against entering into relationships with shitty humans 👍