Valentine’s Day is around the corner. It’s one of those days that gets people all riled up. There’s the group who talk about it being a over hyped made up holiday. Then there’s those who are absolutely loving the day and the chance to spoil people they love. I fall in the middle. I didn’t hate the day when I was single, I don’t go crazy about it as a married woman either. It’s just kinda “meh”. My husband and I tend to celebrate a bit. We don’t go crazy though. You know what I love? The idea of using the day as an excuse to love on yourself.
That could look different for everybody. Just like we shouldn’t need a holiday to nudge us to show our partners some more love, we definitely shouldn’t need a reminder to love on ourselves. The thing is, we usually do. We all know that moms carry the torch for being self-care deficient. I know why we do it. I’m guilty of it myself. I’ve gotten so much better though! I had to learn that taking care of myself and loving myself wasn’t selfish. Why is that a hard lesson to learn?
The reasons that we give for putting ourselves dead last on our to do list are totally legit. That doesn’t mean that self care should be negotiable though. It just means that we have to get more creative to get the self care that we need. My husband reminded me of this recently. We were talking about me taking some time for myself and he reminded me that I was thinking too small. He encouraged me to think bigger and think outside the box when it came to what I wanted and needed. I pass that same encouragement on to you.
Many times we don’t get what we really need because we don’t ask for it. No one around you is a mind reader. It would be nice if your husband knew that you could use a break and would really like to just take yourself to dinner tonight. He has no idea. When you’re overwhelmed, over worked or just flat out over it, you’ve got to tap out and tell someone that could give you some relief. You deserve it. That’s just one way to love on yourself a bit. Here are a few more:
- Go with what you need over what you want
- Set boundaries
- Be intentional about loving yourself
- Find your happy place
I tend to show myself love by exercising. It makes me feel awesome and it’s one of those things that is obviously good for you. The beach is my happy place. Taking a drive to the beach makes me happy. I just sit there and watch the waves and spend some time alone with my thoughts. It’s incredibly peaceful and inspiring. I’m also good for treating myself. Whether it’s a tea latte or a new piece of jewelry – I find things that make me feel good.
Big or small: What do you do to show yourself some love?
Great post! As a mother and wife, i definitely need to work on intentionally love myself! #blmgirl
Love this post!! I will be showing some self love by having a pre-natal massage all by myself= bliss!!
I love this post! I have a writing prompt on this topic! I show self-love to myself by designating time for me.
Loved your post. It’s so important to take time for you. We as mom’s often put ourselves last for whatever reason!Thanks for the gentle reminder on this day of ‘love’!
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This is a great post. I think couples should show love all the time and there doesn’t that matter if there’s a day. I’m single.so I bought myself flowers and some candy Haha then called it a day.
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I wish the going to the gym or just exercising made me as happy as it makes you or as much as when I am eating my favourite foods lol. Great post though, I need to be more intentional
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Blogging is something that I do for me, so taking time to blog is how I show self love. I also take time to have a nice hot shower, which is my me time.
It’s so great to have a reminder about self love! That’s the first thing that most of us forget to do.
lovely post, I agree its important to remember to put yourself first. My me time is my skincare routine, love a good pampering
Great Read! Totally agree that self love is the most important love of all! We just stayed home and cooked delicious dinner! On a side note I love your blog’s design!
I love the WHitney Houston song The Greatest Love of All which is the first thing we must do in order to love another. Loving ones self is important to me that is blogging and the grand-babies
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Self love is the foundation to all other forms of love. We can’t give what we don’t have… Love this post. 🙂