A Day for Love, Not Just Lovers: Reframing Valentine's Day
This time of year, it can be hard to avoid the endless barrage of jewelry ads, rose-filled bouquets on every corner, and store displays filled with greeting cards, candy, and stuffed toys in every shade of pink and red. Because Valentine's Day, despite its violent beginnings, has become a day all about lovers.
Still, while many people still look forward to February 14th with a sense of excitement, others may not feel the same. Whether you are single, dating, in partnership, or heart healing, the mid-February "holiday" can bring to the surface a range of complex emotions that can make it difficult to feel like celebrating.
Does that mean we dismiss it altogether?
Cancel V-Day and all its cutesy trappings? Not necessarily.
Maybe all it takes is a change of perspective.
What if, instead of a single day for lovers, we reframed Valentine's Day to a month that invites us into love?
For all its shortcomings, Valentine’s Day gifts us with an opportunity to look inward. To reflect on what we truly want, to remember what we hold in our lives that brings us joy, and to view what is coming up within ourselves from a place of curiosity and kindness.
Shine your most brilliant heart qualities
What if what we really want is to see ourselves—to have our beautiful heart qualities mirrored back to us — to know and remember that we are powerful, infinite, love?
Perhaps an unintended consequence of a Hallmark Valentine’s Day is how on February 14th, we are given permission to shine our most brilliant heart qualities . We are invited to be appreciative, to get creative, to be present, and to express our own versions of playful, sensual, romantic, and sexy all in the name of love.
Whether it’s directed toward another human (be it a romantic partner, friend, or family member) or yourself, love on! What is it that your heart wants to express? What would an unabashed expression of generosity, gratitude, and attention look like for you on this day? During this month?
Open yourself to love and be loved
Whether you are in love or remembering that you are love, you have the power to give — your attention, your kindness, your presence, and your care. Romance the heck out of yourself , your friends, or a stranger (appropriately, of course).
Buy flowers, take a bubble bath, sip a cup of tea slowly without your phone and just be there for all of it. Bundle up and sit in the park to feel the coolness of the air on your skin and your feet on the cold ground. Clean your space, create an altar, write down all of the things that you love about yourself and light a candle beside it. Cook yourself a hot meal with your favorite ingredients. Ditch your old underwear and buy something new (even if no one else sees it). Sleep in your silkiest pajamas.
Let this day be a living love letter… to love.
The love we seek begins in our own hearts
This month and throughout the year, may we have the courage to love hard, and may All That Is invite us into many perfect opportunities to practice offering love, generosity, presence, and kindness. And, if we are in partnership, may that partner stand as a mirror, shining back to us the richness and brightness of our own hearts.
May you surround yourself with others (virtually, or safely co-residing in place) who light you up, and may you create, play, and connect in ways that feel joyful.
Tag humhum on Instagram and show us how you’re expressing love today!
Come join us for an upcoming experience to express self-love.