Happy Valentine's Day, Everyone!!
On this particular day, I know most of us think about love and being loved and hearts and cupids and all that jazz. I mean, it's only natural. This is the recognized Day Of Love, isn't it? This year though, I have a new twist for you. I woke up this morning thinking about one of the greatest loves we have in our lives...the love we have for ourselves. Yep, that's right! I know it sounds strange to hear it, but we all need to love ourselves, and many times that can get lost in the shuffle of our daily lives. (I know it gets lost in my life, from time to time!) We all have other things going on and a lot of us do get in the habit of putting everyone and everything else in our lives first, and forgetting all about the most influential and important person in we know. ME! (and by "me" I mean you...not me. HA!)
Now, before anyone calls me out on this, there is nothing wrong with loving yourself. I know we were all taught as children not to be so selfish and to think of others, which is really super important, for sure. BUT, we also do have to remember to take care of ourselves and love ourselves and nurture the physical person that we are AND the spiritual being that resides inside of us! While this might not seem like anything to be concerned with, it really can be a very big deal! A lot of us spend our lives searching for love or trying to win back a lost love, or looking for that special someone to "make our lives complete." Its human nature...we all want to be loved. While that's important, I'm here to suggest (in a rather radical fashion, I know), that in order to be complete we must first love ourselves. Wait, what was that???! That's right! You heard me! In order to be complete we must first love ourselves! It has always been my belief that only through loving ourselves can we possible love someone else and have a healthy relationship with them. We need to actually have love for ourselves and believe we are worthy of love, before we can give love or expect love from others. Makes sense, right?!
Now of course, I'm sure there will be some who will read this and protest in one or another, but what have you got to lose? I might be wrong, but what if I'm right? Will learning to love and appreciate yourself hurt your life in any way? Nope, not at all. In fact, I think you'll find that you enjoy life more and you will feel you have more to give to those around you. So, give it a try This Valentine's Day, don't just concentrate on the relationships you do or do not have in your life. Instead, as you conduct your other Valentine's Day activities, take some time to work on your relationship with you. Buy a good book you've been meaning to read. Get a manicure/pedicure, or buy a new eye shadow. Take up meditation, or start a yoga class. Buy yourself something new to wear, or go see a movie in the middle of the day.
Those are just some suggestions of course, but think about something you really want to do for yourself and then GO FOR IT! I think that you will not only be surprised how much you like spending some time with yourself, but you will be able to see how learning to love yourself and take some time for you will enrich the other relationships in your life.
Soooo, that's my Valentine's Day suggestion but no matter how you spend it, I want to wish everyone a beautiful and amazing day filled with love, hope, faith, and much life!!
From the bottom of my heart, Happy Valentine's Day, my dear ones! May all of your petitions come true! :-x
Much love,
Sister Candelaria
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