— Being my own valentine
Written By : Annalisa Frumento
‘Tis the season of roses and chocolate, teddy bears and shoebox valentines. February 14th. Either the most dreaded day or the most anticipated depending on your current love life according to most. But, luckily for me, I am not most! I have adopted a philosophy for myself that has turned my perspective on love around. I am always my own valentine.
To “treat ourselves” is definitely not a foreign concept, but what does it actually mean in the context of everyday life? I have an issue with the fact that simple pleasures are seen as treats. Getting dessert is not treating yourself, it's enjoying yourself! Enjoy life! Get that ice cream, buy those concert tickets! Enjoy you because at the end of the day, you can only be there for yourself. The past few years I have adopted this mentality, and been happier for it. As for special occasions, sure, a treat is necessary. But what constitutes a treat? A treat for me may be a different treat than it is for you, and that’s okay! Last valentines day I took an hour long shower, and hit the bars with my girlfriends. That entire day was a huge treat mainly because its something I don’t do often.! Maybe for somebody else it may look like taking longer than usual at a museum, ordering two appetizers instead of one, or binging a tv show with no regrets.
Admittedly, this is my first year with a boyfriend on Valentine’s Day so this year. Is that going to stop me from treating myself though? Never! All that is different now is that my love is spreading to somebody else. In the wise words of Ru Paul “if you can’t love yourself how the hell are you gonna love someone else?” I already have the movies we will be watching laid out, ones that I haven’t gotten around to yet. I don’t often take control of our date nights, but this treat is well needed. No matter who treats you right outside of yourself, you are the captor of your own destiny, feelings and thoughts. Don’t let yourself become your own afterthought! You have to be important to you, not just a significant other.