Love it or hate it, Valentine’s season is here once again. The season brings with it mixed feelings and emotions, but it’s one of those seasons you cannot ignore. I don’t know where you stand, but I’m one of those who are not so obsessed with it. I don’t mind the occasional niceties but I would not go to a crowded place to celebrate valentines. Perhaps this time you can add a new practice to celebrate yourself by being your own valentine? After all, you cannot love someone when you don’t know how to love yourself first. You deserve this!
When was the last time you gave yourself a treat? Recently on my drive home, as I was listening to Oprah Winfrey during a recorded talk show, she spoke about how she spends some time by herself to rejuvenate and reconnect. Most rounded and successful people will share this sentiment, they take time off to reconnect. I know an author who recommends an hour a day, a day in a month, and a week in a year just to rejuvenate. This is a challenge even for me, but I aspire to get there or nearly there.
You cannot give from an empty cup. In most of our adult lives, we’re always giving; to the employer, to our spouse, to our children, to parents and family, to our relatives, to our in-laws, and at times you can feel like you’ve run empty or are running on empty. This is a sign that you’ve not been refilling your cup even as you emptied it. This valentine’s, how about you get some re-fill in your cup? And after this, make it a habit to do this often. Here are some ideas you can start with;
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Take a walk in nature
There’s something about nature that you’ll never get in the concrete jungle a majority of us live in. There’s healing power in nature, breathing in the fresh air, earthing yourself in nature. I once read somewhere that to get rid of the static electricity in your body, every once in a while, you need to earth yourself - step barefoot on the ground, lie down, and just re-connect.
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Go for a massage or beauty treatment
This is a favorite of mine, have a professional masseuse give your muscles the most needed attention and diffuse tension from them. Your feet take you from place to place, and need some TLC (tender loving care) every now and then, what better way to thank them than this?
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Cook up a favorite meal
Perhaps you know you’re good at making a meal of homemade Lasagne like me. How about treating yourself and your loved ones on this? After all, most dinner venues will be highly overcrowded and over-priced, which will be followed by poor service. Enjoy the quality of food you can control from the comfort of your house.
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Go out for a 3-course meal - for no reason at all
If you fancy a 3-course meal, something many of us never have time (rather make time) to do, give yourself an allowance to enjoy one. It doesn’t have to be during valentine’s day itself, this can be done during the month-long season.
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Fulfill a silly childhood fantasy
I used to say that with my first salary, I would buy a can of the baby Nestle Cerelac powder and lick it all. I know you too had a fantasy similar to that, perhaps it was milk powder, sugar, or chocolate. You grew up and never affected the ‘threat’. Possibly because you now know better, or it’s just not a priority anymore. I dare you to pick one fantasy and get it done.
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Designate alone time - doing nothing
This can be something you do frequently and not only on valentine’s day. Some people call it thinking time, others me-time, whatever the name.. Have in your schedule time for the ‘do-nothing’. It’s a way of self-rejuvenation.
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Go on a Solo Trip
Taking a trip alone is no longer a strange thing, as many are now doing it, what stops you? It doesn’t need to be a long one and it can be as short as 1 day, or even as long as a week.
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Buy yourself a gift
Have you always wanted to get something for yourself but there are always other priorities? If it’s affordable and just not yet a priority, why not get it now? After all, the ideal time is never there. There’s always something more urgent. Gladden your heart a little.
Alright! So whatever your excuse for Valentine’s day, there’s no reason why you should not get some positive vibes this February. Be your own Valentine!
Let’s soar!
