“Happiness comes from
within. It is not dependent on external things or on other people. You become
vulnerable and can be easily hurt when your feelings of security and happiness
depend on the behavior and actions of other people. Never give your power to
anyone else.”
~ Brian L. Weiss
Damn! Is it Valentine’s Day again already???? This day always sneaks up on me. I’d rather just skip this day and move on to
St. Patrick’s Day. Valentine’s Day
hasn’t been very romantic for me in a long, long time. Being single, I’ve sat at home on Valentine’s Day the past two years. During my
marriage, Valentine’s Day wasn’t all that romantic either. Granted our marriage wasn’t very healthy, but
my ex-husband did make feeble attempts at being romantic on Valentine’s Day. He tried giving me a card, and I was disappointed,
because he didn’t send flowers. He tried
to send flowers. I was hurt, because we
didn’t go out to dinner. He tried to
make dinner reservations. I felt unloved,
because I wanted flowers. I definitely did
not make things easy for him.
The
problem was I had these grandiose expectations in my head of what should happen
on Valentine’s Day. When my husband
failed to meet these unrealistic expectations, I felt unloved. I erroneously defined our relationship by whether
he brought me flowers or not. I let my happiness
be dependent on someone else.
I
now realize the insanity in this way of thinking. There is no way I can be happy if I continuously
rely on someone else to make me happy.
Happiness comes from within, and I create my own happiness.
So
this Valentine’s Day I have a proposal for all of us who have been dependent on someone else for our happiness. I propose
that we forget what others think of us or do for us and just love ourselves!
This
Valentine’s Day stop worrying if your husband or boyfriend is going to send
flowers. This Valentine’s Day forget
about the chocolate, mushy love notes, and sexy lingerie. This Valentine’s Day stop feeling sorry for
yourself if you don’t have a date. This
Valentine’s Day we start a new tradition.
One that is far more beneficial to our sanity and well-being. This Valentine’s Day we start loving ourselves. “How are we going to do this," you ask? Below are just a few of my ideas, but I’m sure
there are many more.
Love
yourself enough to stop worrying whether you have a date or not.
Love
yourself enough to spend some time on your own.
Love
yourself enough to call a friend, read a book, or take a bubble bath.
Love
yourself enough to schedule a massage or a pedicure or both!
Love
yourself enough to eat chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream while watching
“Magic Mike.”
Love
yourself enough to take care of your mind and body. Go outside.
Go for a walk. Go for a
hike. Go for a run. Just Go!
Love
yourself enough to learn new things.
Visit the museum, an art gallery, or the library. Take a class.
Join a group. Learn how to
juggle!
Love
yourself enough to laugh out loud.
Love
yourself enough to take a chance.
Love
yourself enough to stand up for what you believe in.
Love
yourself enough to walk away from those who hurt you.
Love
yourself enough to let go of the past. (If
not now, when?)
Love
yourself enough to forgive yourself.
Love
yourself enough to live in the present.
Love
yourself enough to hope for the future.
Love
yourself enough to face your fears.
Love
yourself enough to try a little harder.
Love
yourself enough to forgive.
Love
yourself enough to move forward.
Love
yourself enough to open your heart.
Love
yourself enough to love a little more.
Above
all, love yourself enough to know you are worth it.
Because
you most certainly are. :o)
