Be Good to Yourself this Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is about love, as we all know.
Adoring, amorous, devoted, head-over-heels love. But,
what about those who aren't paired up with a special
someone? When the hoopla of Valentine's Day gets under
way, it can be easy for single people to feel a bit
left out.

Well, the notion of self-love is somewhat familiar in
our pop psychology culture - "You can't love anybody
unless you love yourself first" is a popular mantra -
but, the understanding of self-love as a necessary
ritual is a rather foreign one. As Debrena Jackson
Gandy states in her book, "Sacred Pampering
Principles" (Quill), self-love and pampering is not
about cramming more things to do in your already full
life.

"Simply put, pampering is orienting your life around
what brings you joy," she says. "Pampering helps you
relate to yourself in a new and different way - a way
in which care of self is a top priority. And a
priority that doesn't arise out of selfishness but
arises out of a place of healthy self-love and
self-support."

This Valentine's Day, grab a box of chocolates and use
these tips from Jackson Gandy to embark on a
fulfilling new relationship with yourself.


Learn to love yourself - Ask yourself, "What kind of
things would I do if I were in love with the most
wonderful person in the world?" You have to look
within yourself for whatever it is you are looking for
someone else to give you emotionally and spiritually.
Quiet time - Quiet time, or Q.T., is time set aside
with no talking or distracting noises. It gives your
mind and body a break. Balanced living necessitates
silence to counter the effects of sensory overload
that contemporary living gives us.
Creating sacred places - To counter the effects of
contemporary living, you need special spaces to take
your body to relax. Seek at least two places or spaces
you can designate as your sanctuary. It may be under a
tree, on your patio, in a favorite lounge chair or a
corner in the garden.
Pampering tools - Some of the suggested basics are
candles, incense, an incense burner, scented bubble
bath and Epsom salts. Some other tools you might want
to use include a body loofah, clay heel buffer,
natural body sponge and essential oils.
Personal pampering - When, what, how and where you
choose to pamper yourself is as distinct and unique as
you are. Compile a "What Brings Me Joy" list - it
might include outdoor experiences like hiking,
watching the sun rise or set or bike riding; cozy,
cuddly, stay-at-home experiences like snuggling on the
couch with a blanket and a good book, or wearing silk
or satin loungewear; creative, artistic experiences
like finger painting or coloring; or carefree,
self-expressed experiences like hosting a gourmet
dinner or taking a nature hike under the stars.
The possibilities are endless for making healthy,
self-supporting choices every day. .