Thanks to sweatyswag for gifting me the top that inspired this post
OK, Valentine’s Day proper has come and gone, but love is still in the air. And yeah, I spent my Friday night eating a heart-shaped pizza at home with my husband AND my kids. A far cry from the candlelit, wine-and-roses romantic evening of lore, but honestly, #DoneWithFun Daddy and I were never that kind of couple anyway.
Whether your V-Day weekend was hot ‘n’ heavy (and if it was, can you share your tips?), or comfy and cozy on the couch — my guess is you focused on someone (or someones) else in your celebration. So here’s my food for thought:
What would it feel like to be your own valentine?
Really. Think about it. Could you do it? Could you take yourself on a date, wine and dine yourself, pamper your body and your mind, lavish your soul with the things that nurture it — the way you do without even thinking about it for your significant other, your kids, your pets, all your loved ones?
I’ll be honest. I don’t know if I could. I love my alone time — but I hate to eat at a restaurant by myself. I love a relaxing spa day — but I feel guilty for spending that money on only me.
Nevertheless, I’ve been thinking a lot about a message I fell head over heels for when I saw it on a cozy new top from Sweatyswag: “The greatest love story of all is the one we have with ourselves.”
Read it again.
I made a commitment to myself at the beginning of the year to focus on this in the decade to come: Self-love. Kindness — to myself. Body positivity — unconditionally. Acceptance — of where I am at right now, whatever it looks like.
Recent events in the world and in my own life have proven again and again that life is short and nothing is guaranteed. We remind ourselves and others to hug our kids a little tighter, kiss our significant others goodbye every single morning, and use the phrase “I love you” gratuitously for all of those who matter in our lives.
But at the same time, we hate what we see in the mirror. We hold ourselves to impossible standards and criticize ourselves relentlessly when we slip or heaven forbid, fail. We push ourselves harder and harder to achieve. We feel we need to prove we are worthy, instead of believing we are worthy already.
It’s time to stop proving and start believing.
You don’t stop loving your spouse because they’ve gained weight. You don’t stop loving your kids because they disobeyed. You don’t cast out a friend for their mistakes and you don’t turn your back on a family member when they fail.
You love all of these people that matter unconditionally, because of their imperfections as much as in spite of them.
If your love story with yourself reads more like Romeo and Juliet than “happily ever after,” I encourage you to rewrite the story. Pen yourself a love letter. Make a list of 10 things you love about yourself. Get comfortable being alone – go out for coffee by yourself or see a movie by yourself or get a massage … but make yourself a priority this year too. You’re worth it. Right now. Without needing to change a thing.
My own love story with myself has been convoluted for sure, sometimes incoherent, and filled with plot twists galore … but I think there might be a happy ending here after all.
One of my favorite ways to remind myself of my worth? Surround myself with positivity and empowerment messages. Check out my local favorite, the female-owned Sweatyswag (on Instagram at @sweatyswaginspired) for some of the cutest, softest, locally printed and dyed athleisure with messages that fill my heart 💗 AND make me want to get my butt off the couch. 💪
Sweatyswag is doing ✨AMAZING✨ things to change our world for the better, one kindness challenge at a time — and their workout gear is legit. Leggings, sweatshirts, tanks and tees with trendy details on point to go from gym to coffee shop to wine bar seamlessly … perfect for that date you’re taking yourself on after reading this post. 😉
Sweatyswag is sweetening the deal for my readers! If you didn’t get what you wanted for Valentine’s Day, here’s your chance. Use VIP code NEVERDONEWITHFUN at sweatyswag.com to take 15% off your purchase. Code expires tonight at midnight CST so don’t wait to treat yourself!
Want to see the gear in person instead? If you’re local, check out Sweatyswag at:
- Enchantments, Glen Ellyn
- HealthTrack Sports Wellness, Glen Ellyn
- Patriot Sports and Fitness, Elmhurst
- FFC, Elmhurst
- FFC, Park Ridge
Do you need a reminder of your worth too? We’re giving away this favorite Go L&VE Yourself tank on Instagram this weekend to one lucky follower! Hop over to this post for all the details on how to enter.
To get you started on rewriting your love story with yourself, tell me: what’s one thing about yourself that you wouldn’t change for anything? Share in the comments below or tag me on social @neverdonewithfun!
Keep following my journey of wellness, fitness, and creative motherhood on Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook for more inspiration and ideas.
