What if this year, Valentine's Day became the celebration of love... of oneself? No excessive narcissism here; what we more commonly call self-love is essential to our well-being and deserves to be cultivated regularly. Whether you're single or in a relationship, here are some ideas for spending February 14th free from pressures!
Listen to The Princess and the Escalator
What better way to celebrate Valentine's Day than listening to Le Cœur sur la table, a podcast deciphering our way of loving. In her first episode, The Princess and the Escalator, Victoire Tuaillon explores the idea that the couple, the ultimate romantic ideal in our Western society, can be summed up in a series of stages to be crossed, gradually and undeniably leading to cohabitation, marriage, parenthood, and home ownership. What she calls the "relational escalator." Through testimonials, expert interviews, and a personal journey, she questions the norm and explores other ways of experiencing love, outside of this "escalator" that isn't always suited to each of us. A refreshing, guilt-free, and non-judgmental podcast on our relationship with love.
Write yourself a love letter
This initiative may seem strange, but it represents a very powerful self-care ritual. While we tend to easily devalue ourselves, offering ourselves a little tenderness and love can boost self-esteem. Writing a love letter to yourself promotes awareness of your uniqueness, highlights your own value, and provides a momentary disconnection from external judgment. To write it, prefer paper to a computer and choose a place where you won't be disturbed. If you're lacking inspiration, you can start by making a list of your qualities, your achievements, or all the things you're proud of. While the exercise may seem strange at first, you'll quickly feel the benefits.
We recommend that you keep this letter if you wish. During difficult times or moments of doubt, it will remind you of what an extraordinary person you are!
Take some time for yourself to refocus
Allow yourself a moment of peace and quiet to the sound of Safia Ayad's gentle voice during a guided breathing session to reconnect with your Center. The benefits of meditation are well-proven: better regulation of emotions, reduced anxiety, increased sense of well-being, to name a few. In our busy daily lives, we don't always think to take a step back to refocus. If you're not yet familiar with this ancient practice, you'll notice that paying attention to the breath allows us to connect to the present moment, to the here and now. By letting our thoughts flow without attaching ourselves to them or paying attention to them, we distance ourselves and no longer merge with them. We accept them and let them go, thus putting an end to mental ruminations. Mindful breathing and meditation allow us to know ourselves better and encourage self-love.
Pamper yourself and take care of yourself
To round off this Valentine's Day, we recommend the graphic novel I'm Every Woman by renowned feminist Liv Strömquist. Both funny and dark, the author delights in listing the worst boyfriends in history (spoiler alert: Elvis Presley is in the top 5!), questions why children are ultra-conservative, and reflects on the place of patriarchy in society. Drawing on contemporary references, ranging from Friends and The Simpsons to Yoko Ono and John Lennon, including the life of Stalin, she delivers a sharp and offbeat critique of romantic relationships dominated by masculine values.