Valentine’s Day is just around the corner; the one day that can feel like an awkward first date with your emotions, except this time, you are stuck with them. It all starts with the memes, those hilarious but slightly painful reminders flooding your feed, making sure you know you are still single.
But the real kicker? That one song. You know that asks where all the “chronically single” women’s boyfriends are. Suddenly, it is playing in your head on repeat, in the shower, in the car, even when you are just trying to mind your business. Next thing you know, you are Googling, “How do I get a song out of my head?” Spoiler; nothing works. So, you just accept it.
Now, if you are in a stable, picture-perfect relationship, Valentine’s Day is a well-planned affair. You either get a gift that makes you think, "Wow, they get me" (cue the romantic music), or you end up with a half-hearted box of chocolates that screams, "My coworkers said this would be fine." Either way, it is predictable. But if you are single or somewhere in that confusing in-between stage, Valentine’s Day can go in a million different directions. Some people will thrive, others will survive, and the rest of us? We will be bombarded by ads convincing us to spend half our rent on self-care products. Oh, capitalism.
But what if, this year, you flipped the script and became your own Valentine? Hear me out; self-love is not about splurging on an overpriced bathrobe you saw on TikTok or booking a solo trip like you are living your version of Eat, Pray, Love. It is deeper than that. Self-love is about embracing yourself, flaws and all.
Let us be real; self-love is not adding another self-help book to your growing collection or treating yourself to an expensive spa day (although, no judgment if you do). It is looking in the mirror and saying, "I am enough, just as I am." Even the Bible says, "Love others as you love yourself." And guess what? You cannot pour from an empty cup, darling. It is about knowing that even if you do not have everything figured out yet, you are exactly where you need to be.
So, instead of waiting for someone else to bring you flowers, buy yourself those red roses; not because you need them, but because you deserve them. Treat yourself to chocolates (the good kind, not those weird heart-shaped ones nobody likes). Pour yourself a glass of encouragement; the kind that reminds you, "I got this," even when life feels like an episode of The Bachelor where no one gets a rose. Wrap yourself in determination and decide to do things differently this year. Move your body more, drink more water, laugh louder, and do it all for you. Because, as the legendary Carrie Bradshaw once said, "Maybe the most important relationship you have is the one with yourself."
And when you wake up on February 15, you will feel something even better than love; you will feel empowered. Because choosing to put yourself first is the most romantic thing you can do for anyone, especially yourself.
