Roses are red, Violets are blue…

February is a funny month. We’ve just about recovered from the craziness of the January sales and the bombardment of 50% off discounts, deals, and last minute offers enticing us to practically set up camp in many of the shopping centres across the country!

Heck, the Christmas decorations are still warm in their boxes (some of us letting them linger way longer than we should!) and lo’ and behold, retailers are heralding the impending 14^th February…Valentine’s Day.

For some, it’s just another date in the calendar, a cleverly marketed day, and if they’re lucky, a bunch of flowers bought last minute in the garage on the way home and a bright red coloured card, with the sticker still on the back, exorbitantly priced at $7.99!

For others, it is like the Holy Grail…the pinnacle of romance and a time to pour over hundreds of cards in the newsagency, seeking the perfect words and verses within a card, choosing the most expensive restaurant overlooking a wonderful vista, and providing an opportune time to declare words of sweet nothings…and take artistically constructed photos to upload on to Instagram and Facebook and show the world how much they are loved!

And then, there are the others, who are ‘Valentine Scrooges’…the ones who scowl at anyone who so much as looks at a significant other with a glint in their eye, or a look of love, who rushes through the sexy or luxurious lingerie in the department store as if the bras or underwear will sear them with a heat as hot as hell… “Pffft, Valentines is just a Hallmark-created retail money spinner, bah humbug…”

Now I have a hunch about some of these ‘Valentine Scrooges’.

You see, I don’t think that they necessarily have any real issue with Valentine’s Day and February as the month of love…I feel that for some, not all, but for some, the issue is that it brings up feelings about SELF-LOVE!

Let’s play Devil’s Advocate here for a moment…

They may be in a loving relationship and their partner has arranged to take them out for dinner. They might be feeling down on themselves, hating on their ‘bits’ and dreading having to trawl through their wardrobe, which is in much need of an overhaul, to find something that makes them feel good.

Let’s face it, after the Silly Season, many of us have over-indulged in decadent chocolates gifted to us or excessed on cool glasses of bubbling Prosecco. They can’t find something that makes them feel beautiful, or sexy, or comfortable in, and as a result, it makes them feel less confident or attractive – they are not feeling self-love!

Another example, they may be quite happily single or maybe unhappily single…yet this month, they will be bombarded with, what we know is a retail created ‘atmosphere’ and ‘environment’ of love. Everywhere they look – retail, media, blogs, train stations, bus depots, restaurants et cetera, are capitalising on couples. All they see are couples, everywhere!

EVERY. WHERE.

They might start to forget about SELF-LOVE! And what do most of us do when we are feeling unworthy of self-love? We put on our oldest, daggiest, baggiest tracky-dacks, a shapeless t-shirt that has seen better days and lounge in the darkest corner of our house, eating ice-cream (or cheese and crackers), while giving mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on a bottle of Merlot that isn’t breathing!!

When it comes down to it, SELF-LOVE is so important!

Yes, I know that other types of love are equally important. The love I feel for my husband, my four boys and my step-children makes my heart swell with emotion. So too, does the love I feel for my amazing family and friends.

Self-love… is embracing every day and allowing ourselves to enjoy it to its fullest!

Self-love… is nourishing our bodies with fresh, healthy foods to energise us to live our fullest!

Self-love… is balancing our lives with work, play and relaxation to ensure a healthy mind, body and spirit!

Self-love… is dressing with style that allows our personality to shine with authenticity and confidence!

Self-love… is reminding ourselves that we are loved and valued by others!

Self-love… is commending ourselves on our achievements and adversity overcome!

So why not make a date to remind yourself that every day can be Valentine’s Day!

Roses are red, violets are are blue…show self-love and think about you 🙂