Celebrate Love
Today on my heart is LOVE. On days like today, Valentine's Day, I always find myself remembering the hurt I felt, the love I so badly wished for and the strength I found. It's heart-hurting and heart-warming all at the same time.
Traditionally, Valentine's Day is a day about love but has been commercialized for people to only feel it applies to them if they have "someone else to love/love them" in a romantic way. And while I say celebrate the one you're with - I think we need to change the dialogue around this day. It's about LOVE! Period. Not about who you can love or who gets to love you.
Let me explain ... if you are single, you may find yourself feeling envious of other people's relationships. You may even find a hatred for this "holiday" that so many can't wait to be showered on. Am I right? I know I did.
But what if, what if you decided to celebrate YOU! Celebrate the love you have for yourself. And if you don't have any, today is the perfect day to declare your commitment to finding it. If you take nothing else from this letter, make a note of this ... YOU NEED TO CELEBRATE YOU TODAY regardless of a significant other!
This last year of my life, I'm exceptionally grateful that I made the commitment to love who I am entirely. It's easy to love the things we like. It's hard to love the things we criticize so easily. But to feel true love, it must start within first.
It wasn't until I left an abusive relationship and decided I needed to focus on me that my husband came from left field. I do believe that if I never took time for finding love in a way that isn't spoken of much, then I'd still be stuck in the cycle of bad relationships.
Here are three [hard] lessons I learned that can maybe help you too ...
♥︎ Happiness is a byproduct of love.
Longevity of happiness only lasts when you love who you are. Eventually, the person who you thought made you happy but no longer does could be a reflection of the love you need from yourself.
We settle when are expectations aren't high enough. Don't discount yourself. When you appreciate yourself and all the goodness you deserve, happiness will automatically follow.
♥︎ A significant other isn't going to complete you.
This is something I was stuck on for years! I thought that having a boyfriend would make me feel happier and my life would be complete. Anhhhhh. I was so wrong. No matter what guy came into my life, I still criticized my body and felt shitty about myself.
You have the ability to be whole all on your own. Stand on your two feet. Find love independently with who you are. When you enter a relationship, enter is as individuals in love. Not dependents.
♥︎ Being single is the greatest superpower you will ever have.
It's YOUR time to discover who you are, what you love, what you will not tolerate, and everything in between. Don't waste this time wishing to find someone to love you. The more love you have for yourself, the more you invite to your life.
And one more thing, if you are in a relationship and still feel alone - I lived this life too - then you need to re-evaluate who you are with. You want to find that person who is going to choose to love you every single day. The will show up for you, like you show up for yourself. You up your worth, with self love, and the rest of the world can never put you on sale!
Happy Valentine's Day, love. Now go out there and celebrate you!!!
xo