The Day After

Yesterday it was fireworks. Yesterday the taste of melted chocolate, the smell of rose petals and the sound of a gentle saxophone all said “Love” to me. The day was magical. The night was magical and ordinary people turned into Casanovas as Cupid shot his arrow into their hind parts. Yesterday this was love. 

Today the fireworks are gone, the chocolate wrappers litter the floor and the rose petals have lost their sweet scent. The saxophone player has been paid for his gig and the red dress has been sent to the dry cleaners. Love as we were told is finished and one must wait for next year to feel this way again.

 

"Until next year sir, it's been real"

Whether or not we are in a relationship one does not have to depend on the commercialized wave of Valentine’s Day to feel love. The greatest gift that we can give ourselves this season is self-love. 

Self-love is looking into the mirror and not judging the image that we see. Society already judges our image everyday so why not give your body love and acceptance? You are beautiful just the way you are. Even without makeup and weave.  

Self-love is taking a break from a project in order to spend time with those we love and those who love us. Success is wonderful and sometimes empty. The love of friends and family is nourishing and nurturing.

Self-love is taking time to breathe deeply, to feed our bodies with healthy food and to stretch our tired muscles after sitting at the office all day.

 I love to turn on music and dance with abandonment. At this moment the way my moves and rhythm look don’t matter. In this moment I am dancing for me. 

Self-love is giving yourself permission to make mistakes, to be silly, to laugh out loud and to be in awe of life’s simple pleasures.

Today is the day after. The day after Valentine’s Day. Yesterday it was magical. Today it’s real.

 Love yourself for real.