Happy Valentine’s Day!

Instead of the usual “What to Buy Your Valentine” or “The Perfect Activities for a Valentine’s Date”, we want to give you something truly necessary – whether you’re in a committed relationship with someone else or not.

How to Date Yourself (inspired by Miley Cyrus’ hit, Flowers)

“I can buy myself flowers”

Buy yourself the flowers, babe. You know the kind you like, and if you don’t, ask the florist for a recommendation. They love being able to use their creativity, so they’re usually happy to come up with something custom. Don’t like flowers? Buy yourself something you DO like. The important part is that you are gifting yourself something that will bring a smile to your face and taking the time to recognize that you don’t need to rely on other people for happiness.

“Write my name in the sand”

Take a trip alone. (Be safe, obviously! Let people know where you’re going, and make sure you’re prepared.) BUT, if you’ve never experienced a trip alone, you really need to try it out. It can be so absolutely empowering and freeing. Stick to your own budget – there’s no pressure to get boujee here. If you don’t want to spend a lot, take a day trip. Drive or take the train to another town that you don’t visit often, and spend some time in a park or at the beach.

Taking a break from the hustle and bustle of life, even for a day, can give you the chance to relax and take a step back from any stressors. This can help to reduce feelings of anxiety and give you the opportunity to better manage it.

“Talk to myself for hours, say things you don’t understand”

This is where I’d love to say that everyone should be in therapy. You don’t have to have anything “wrong” in your life to benefit from talk therapy. A good therapist can really help you work through your thoughts and make sense of them. But, I know that mental health care is expensive, and not everyone can afford this “luxury”, though I think it should be considered a necessity.

If you have the opportunity, give therapy a try. If not, I have some more accessible ideas for this lyric, too. Grab a good old pen and paper, and get to journaling! Start a habit of journaling for a few minutes each day and write down what you’re thankful for in life or the things that make you smile. If starting a new habit is too daunting, just journal for today. Take 15 minutes and jot down what’s on your mind. It’s a great way to get your thoughts out.

“I can take myself dancing”

You know that pole dancing class you keep seeing as an ad on instagram? Yo, do it. It will be so much fun, and you’ll be so proud of your damn self when it’s over. Ok, so maybe it’s not dancing that you’re into. In that case, look up some other classes available in your area and take yourself there! Some ideas could be yoga, cycling, painting, cooking, ceramics, arts & crafts, or even go all-in by joining an adult sports league.

“I can hold my own hand”

When I think about holding hands in public, it’s partly about wanting to show the people around you that you’re in love with the person you’re holding hands with, right? So let’s take time to show the world around us that we love ourselves, too. Take that selfie and post it, love. No explanation needed. Here are a few caption suggestions:

• ♥️ Self love is the best love.
• ♥️ Feelin’ myself.
• ♥️ If you can’t love yourself, how in the hell you gonna love somebody else?
  (Thanks Mama Ru for that last one)

“I can love me better than you can”

For today, let’s not make this about anyone else but you. Love yourself more today than you did yesterday, and allow that love to continue to grow.

Happy Valentine’s Day, y’all.

xo

Lo