We had a spring tease here in the northeast last weekend. It was in the 60s on Friday and Saturday, then Sunday we had four inches of snow! This week’s weather will also be a tug-of-war between seasons. Spring is pushing winter out, and I’m ready!
Did you celebrate Valentine’s Day? Did you share your love, gratitude and praise with those closest to you? How did you show that same love, gratitude and praise to yourself?
Traditionally, Valentine’s Day is celebrated with a special person or people in our lives. Have you thought about how special you are and did you celebrate yourself? As women, we’re often so busy loving and caring for others that we sometimes forget to love and care for ourselves. I think Valentine’s Day is not only a time to recognize our loved ones but also a time to recognize who we are as women.
Do you remember making Valentine’s Day cards in grammar school? I thought it was so much fun! The pink and red construction paper, the white paper doilies, the colorful crayons and glue. If you had the supplies to make a Valentine for yourself today, what would it look like? What words would you choose to express love to yourself? Would you use the traditional red paper or would you choose a different color or medium for your card? Paper, fabric, paint, old jewelry? Can you visualize it? Valentine’s Day may be over, but we can still make ourselves a card or do something special to celebrate who we are because we are all special.
I know Valentine’s Day isn’t a time of celebration for everyone; the cultural pressure and commercialism of the holiday can generate feelings of loneliness for those who may not be partnered or in love with anyone, or who may have recently experienced a breakup or a loss. But I’d like to encourage us to take time and show love, kindness and praise for the one person who might need it most–ourselves. Mark 12:31 tells us to “love your neighbor as yourself.” God commanded us to love ourselves, and how can we love anyone else if we don’t first love who we are despite what we might be going through?
On another note, I want to give a big thank you to my designer Callie Revell for my new logo. I sent her a photograph of my favorite bowl that contains all of my favorite colors, and she pulled them all together and accented them with a butterfly. I chose the butterfly as my symbol because it represents such a beautiful transformation process that I believe we similarly go through to become the women we were created to be.
Remember: you are beautiful, strong, kind, loving, caring, unique, special, giving…
Please add to the list in the comment section!
I am creative.
Yes, you are creative. You are also kind, friendly and caring.