Valentine’s Day is known as a day to celebrate your relationship with your partner and to cherish their presence in your life. I have actually never been in a relationship on Valentine’s Day but I still love the holiday immensely. For me, the definition of Valentine’s Day has evolved since it first became a holiday. I started to believe that Valentine’s Day is a day to love your friends and family, and for self-love. It is so important to love yourself before you can start to love someone else; to get over your insecurities, and to realize that everyone has flaws and your flaws are what make you—you!
In our busy day-to-day lives, we sometimes forget to pamper and give a little bit of extra affection towards ourselves because we are so wrapped up in perfecting our future, especially in college. Valentine’s Day has always been a reminder to put out some time for self-care and self-appreciation. A day to celebrate and love myself. The ability to love yourself and to vouch for yourself is a crucial trait that a lot of people tend not to have. Self-love has been proven beneficial with not just relationships but within a professional environment as well. According to a study conducted by Stanford, when an individual has a sense of compassion for themselves, they become more confident and approach their failures in a positive mindset. It also teaches us that competition whether in an academic environment or even within the workplace shouldn’t lead to isolation, but instead should serve as a way for us to realize our true self-worth. Self-love is the basis for having self-esteem and can help cultivate a selfless relationship. I believe that when you learn to love yourself, you show your best side to people and can put away your ego and start to accept the differences between you and your partner.
Every year, I like to buy myself food from my all-time favorite restaurant and then treat myself to Lindor chocolates as I jam out to all my favorite songs. It gives me a chance to relax and unwind from my hectic lifestyle, while also allowing me an opportunity to pamper and love myself.
I love having a day set aside for some self-care, but more than that, I also love spending time with my family. Who said Valentine’s Day has to be reserved for only couples? For me, my grandma is my biggest support and best friend so every year on Valentine’s Day, I buy her a chocolate cake that we share together while watching a Bollywood movie. I also love giving my closest friends a Valentine’s Day card with some candy because at college I don’t have family close by so I consider them to be my home away from home. The definition of Valentine’s Day has changed throughout the years that it does not have to be a day only for couples. It can be a day to show some self-appreciation or a day to spend with your family and friends.
Happy Valentine’s Day, ladies!