Valentine’s Day: love it or hate it?
As far as I can tell, there’s very little middle ground on this particular topic. 😉
You either think Valentine’s Day is an overblown “Hallmark holiday.” Or you’re decked out in a red dress with a rose in your hair, eating chocolate bon bons and candy hearts for an entire week every February. (I don’t know anything about the bon bons. Really.)
What if I told you that celebrating Valentine’s Day might be good for you?
Here are a few ways to “re-frame” this bright little winter holiday and embrace it on your own terms, regardless of your current “relationship status.” Because finding a reason to smile in the dead of winter seems like a pretty healthy thing to me.
1. Go red.
Red makes me feel happy, warm, bright, energized. It’s in my living room, my kitchen, my closet. Even my day planner is red (yes, I still use pen and paper sometimes). To me, there’s nothing more cheerful than pops of red everywhere on a gloomy winter day. Valentine’s Day breaks up the long haul between Christmas/New Year’s and Spring…and I love that. Valentino said it best: “Red has guts…deep, strong, dramatic. A geranium red. A Goya red…to be used like gold for furnishing a house…for clothes, it is strong, like black or white.” What if you added a little splash of red to your outfit tomorrow? I bet you’ll feel just a little happier.
2. Celebrate all kinds of love.
Remember those little valentines you gave to your classmates every year in grade school? The ones with Charlie Brown and Lucy or Linus and Sally? Did you have a romantic crush on everyone in your class? Probably not. You were celebrating friendship. My mom always makes Valentine’s Day a celebration of love in general; so, while I love getting a dozen red roses from my man, I always smile when I wake up on February 14th – even during years in which there was no man – because I know I’ll get a little love note from my mom. (Thanks, Mom. I love you.) Disconnect Valentine’s Day from romantic love and broaden the scope a little to include friends, family, pets, and YOU.
3. Pamper yourself.
It’s winter. It’s cold and dark. You deserve to be pampered, even if you do it on your own. Book a massage or facial. Soak in a tub full of lavender and rose petals. Treat yourself to an indulgent dinner, even if you’re eating alone. Make a chocolate cake or a cup of hot cocoa with real, fancy dark chocolate.
4. Share your love.
Be like my mom and make Valentine’s Day special for someone other than your honey (although that’s a good idea too). Who in your life could use a little boost this year? Pick up a card on the way home tonight and drop it off for them tomorrow. Or call them to wish them a Happy Valentine’s Day. Send Happy Valentine’s Day texts to a bunch of friends or leave notes on their Facebook pages. They may think you’re a little kooky, but I bet they’ll smile anyway.
5. Cozy up with some chocolate.
My love of chocolate is no surprise to those of you who’ve been in the Dalch Wellness family for a while. 😉 And for good reason – eating chocolate makes us feel good (and makes our actual heart happy)! Here’s a roundup of some of my favorite chocolate blog posts, including one about the many health benefits of dark chocolate.
- 6 Minute Chocolate Cupcakes
- Spicy Hot Cocoa (Don’t miss this one. It’s got a little mojo-boosting aphrodisiac in it.)
- 5 reasons to eat more chocolate
So…tell me in the comments…what will you do this year to reclaim Valentine’s Day as the healthy and happy celebration of love it should be (Hallmark or not)?
P.S. Happy Valentine’s Day! Sending you a big bear hug and lots of love and gratitude for being part of my world.
xo,
