February truly is the month of love! However, it can also be a month where so many of us might feel a little more alone. Especially during these times. With such an emphasis put on romantic love, and having the perfect Valentine's date or celebration, it can be easy to lose sight of what this holiday is all about. For me, it is simply about making an effort to put a little more love out into the world. I feel this year more than ever, our world is in desperate need of all the extra affection and positivity it can get. You might be asking, "But how can we show this affection and celebrate love while still staying safe?" or "What is the point of celebrating if I don't have a romantic partner or anyone special in my life?" Through this post, I hope to help you answer both of those questions at least a little by sharing different types of love (other than romantic) and how to easily appreciate each one.
This year I won't be celebrating by going out to dinner with B like usual, or going out anywhere with anyone at all actually. With COVID cases continuing to rise here in the US, personally, I cannot justify doing something as selfish as eating inside a restaurant when our front line workers are already so overwhelmed. That does not mean we aren't celebrating though, especially since it is also our 6 year anniversary! B and I plan to just have a quiet night in together simply appreciating everything we have. We will probably cook together, maybe take a walk on the beach (if it's warm enough and no one is around), and love on our fur babies. This year I also do not want to spend a ton of money on gifts, but still want to show love to those in my life I cannot be with right now. I am sure many of us are feeling the same. That is why I came up with the lovely idea of sending roses (or a rose) and sentimental handwritten Valentine notes to treasured people in my life. This is such an easy inexpensive gift idea, so I wanted to share it with you! Such a simple act of kindness can really mean the world and help us all feel a bit more connected.
The first type of Love to consider is called Philia. To celebrate Philia, or love in friendship, send your friends yellow or pale pink roses. Yellow roses can represent nostalgia, appreciation, and fond memories. Write about a happy memory you and your friend shared, or tell them why you appreciate them. This memory can be something a simple as recounting an inside joke, or even the story of the first time you met! Your friend will be instantly happy and filled with love as soon as they read it and will instantly be transported to that happy memory even for a moment. Pale pink roses symbolize grace, elegance, and admiration. Send pale pink roses to your sweetest most elegant friend. This is the friend who is always so put together, the one who you always go-to for style or decor advice. They will adore the roses, and probably enjoy using them to decorate their home. Write them some kind words to let them know why you admire them so much! This will seriously make them feel so loved and validated.
Sometimes we also share a special friendship with co-workers. Send your office bestie a peach or coral rose to express gratitude or celebrate an important business deal. This is the co-worker who always greets you (or who you always say hi to) right away. You probably spend lunch breaks with this person, try to work on projects together, and know at least a bit about their life outside of work. This is the person that makes your job bearable, and dare I say? Fun! They always have your back, so write to thank them sincerely for all they do to make your job more enjoyable. This will give them such a confidence boost! It will also help boost the mood and morale of the overall workplace!
The next type of love I want to tell you about is Storge. To celebrate Storge, or familial love, send orange, green, or ivory roses. Orange roses represent pride, creativity, enthusiasm, youth, and energy. Give orange roses to the special kids in your family and let them know how proud you are of them. Instead of a card, write your valentine's note to them on the inside cover of a book! Foster their creativity and create a sentimental item they will always treasure. I still have a few childhood books that my family members wrote to me in and they make me feel so loved every time I see them. Green roses are perfect for parents, especially moms, because they symbolize an appreciation for life. They also represent peace, fertility, and stability. Let your parents know how much you appreciate everything they have done for you over the years. Because of their connection to fertility and femininity, green roses are also great to send to expecting moms, or those trying to become a mom. Let her know you support her and are excited to be a part of her journey to motherhood. Ivory roses represent charm and are the best rose to send if you want to show how much you care. They are perfect for siblings, grandparents, or cousins. Mix them with some eucalyptus sprigs, or other greens, for a simply elegant bouquet.
What if you want to not focus on one specific person, but rather humanity itself? This type of love is Agape, or universal love for all people, animals, and nature. To express this type of love, instead of buying flowers you could buy pet food for a local animal shelter. If you are really into the idea of roses, buy a multi-colored bouquet to represent happiness and give them to a retirement community or other group that might appreciate them. You can also simply take a walk through a park and appreciate all the loveliness that surrounds us while we are in nature.
Finally, if you are still feeling like you have absolutely no one to share love with this month, focus on #1. That's you! Philautia means self-love and can be the most rewarding. Buy yourself your favorite color of rose (or whatever else you like) and write down all the reasons you love yourself. I know this can be difficult to do, but it is so important that we learn to speak to ourselves with kindness. Recently I made a promise to myself that I would actively try to just be nicer to myself. I realized some of the mean things I was letting my inner critic ( you know that voice in your head that isn't your conscience, but rather the one that tells you how much you suck from time to time, or makes you relive every cringy thing you have ever done right when you are trying to fall asleep?) say and decided it was time to silence her. Ever since then I have felt so much more at peace with myself and my life journey. Maybe for you, there is something you have accomplished recently too and not shared it with anyone yet. Write it down in a note to yourself! You should be so proud of everything you have accomplished! I know this sounds a bit weird but for me at least, writing something out/reading something just makes it feel more real. Makes me feel more validated. Just this small act of self-love is still putting positive energy out into the universe. Spend the day doing something that you enjoy. Maybe take the day off and make it all about self-care because you do deserve it! For me, the perfect self-care day includes early morning uninterrupted meditation/yoga, a walk, a long shower, an at-home skin treatment, a nap, and pizza. What I have found is that when you truly learn to love yourself (and trust me I am still working on this every day) you will never feel alone in this world. You will always feel at home and at peace. Philautia is no doubt challenging, but it is also so fulfilling. Like one of my favorite people in the world always says "If you can't love yourself how in the hell are you gonna love somebody else?"
Whatever you decide to do this Valentine's day, make sure you do it with sincerity and love.
I hope this has inspired you to share love this month! If you are still looking for more, check out my Valentine's Day Gift Guides here. And, as always, it would be so lovely to connect with you so follow me on Instagram @_sincerelylovely
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