So tomorrow is Valentine’s Day, and over the last few weeks I’ve seen countless adverts, posts, and reminders… so it felt only fitting that today’s blog should reflect a little on the current vibe!
We’re so often told that Valentine’s Day is the day for us to show someone special just how much we love them, and although that’s a lovely sentiment, I wanted to offer a slightly different perspective, one that I think many of us will be able to relate to…
Of course, we all like to be reminded that we are loved and appreciated, but does that really need to be saved for just one day of the year?
No, of course not.
And for many of us, Valentine’s Day can quickly become another item on the to-do list, maybe even a little stressful! There’s the rush to find the perfect gift, making sure you’ve booked a table before your favourite restaurant is fully booked, maybe needing to arrange childcare, and then hoping nothing throws a spanner in the works, like traffic, forgetting your bank card, or that last-minute kitchen disaster. By the time you finally sit down to enjoy that carefully planned meal, you might find yourself wondering whether you actually turned off the tumble dryer or locked the front door in the rush to get out of the house on time!
But love is not always about flowers, chocolates, and candlelit dinners.
Sometimes it’s someone making you that longed-for cup of coffee without being asked. Giving you the last biscuit even though you know they secretly wanted it themselves. Or even pretending to enjoy that film you were so keen for them to watch, while secretly counting down the minutes until it’s over, (or is that just me?)
Love and appreciation so often live in the thousand small ways that we care for each other every day, and yet they can so easily go unnoticed or be taken for granted.
And in a world that can feel overwhelming and uncertain at times, of course it matters that we pause now and again to show the people who make us feel safe and grounded, just how much they really mean to us, however, more often than not, thoughtfulness is valued far more than any price tag.
So rather than rushing out to grab those last-minute flowers from the garage this weekend simply because it feels expected, perhaps this weekend could instead be about spending unhurried time with the people you love, and saying the words we so often assume they already know.
And for those who might be spending this weekend on your own…
Perhaps it brings you opportunity rather than absence.
An opportunity for you to slow down, to listen to your own needs, and to offer yourself the same kindness you’d so readily give to others.
Maybe that looks like a peaceful walk, enjoying your favourite meal, a long relaxing bath, or simply an evening without any obligations. Maybe it even looks like embracing the longed for, and well-deserved, uninterrupted silence, finally getting to finish that book!, or having the TV all to yourself without compromise!
Valentine’s Day doesn’t only need to be about romantic love, even though the world can sometimes make it feel that way. It can also be about the love we have for ourselves, and the ways we care for our own heart.
So, whether you share this weekend with someone else, or simply with yourself, may it be filled with moments that make your heart feel happy, loved, and content, with perhaps a cup of coffee (or tea), a biscuit (or 6), or even a box of chocolates thrown in for good measure, just because you can!
With warmth, love and light,
Liz Xx
Really good sentiment Liz. We have never celebrated Valentines day or lots of the other days that seem to have crept into the calendar in recent years. Love and caring for each other should be something which is shown every day as you say, without grand gestures often just by being there for each other. Treats and special occasions are always welcome but are often more appreciated when spontaneous.