ST. VALENTINE’S DAY- CELEBRATING ALL SHADES OF LUMINOUS LOVE

By CHICHI MORRIS

Lovers day, lovers month, whichever way you prefer it, February is a month where we are dazzled by LOVE. The mega show of love floods our line of vision with endless red roses, creative commercials showcasing fancy gift ideas and charming high fashion.

The beauty of love is hard to escape; there seems to be a shade of red at every corner you look at, from shops to social media, and is it me, or is this proposal season? 

Love is one of the most potent forces; it mends the broken, soothes the wounded, and aids the blossoming and strengthening of bonds. It comes in many shades and can be expressed and enjoyed in many ways.

Sweet love is the essence of our being- we crave it, love it, and all need it. The mere thought of love brings a smile to one’s face, as it feels good. The dopamine release keeps us hooked and asking for more. 

The expression of love cannot sustain humanity if given only one particular day to celebrate. Therefore, we should intentionally communicate our feelings daily to those we cherish and care for; strangers on the street can benefit from our kind smiles to warm this sometimes cold world.

Loving is an everyday affair, expressed through random acts of kindness, vocalised ‘I love you,’ and one’s most expensive commodity- time. Giving our time to those we love speaks volumes. 

Loving The Lover

That one person who makes your heart sing and gives you butterflies in the pit of your belly- that consistent force of love and support deserves affirmation from you, not only on one day out of 365 but as many times as possible in the day, week, month, or year. 

So, we should make it a common practice to shower our loved ones with pure love through acts of giving, express love in their love language, and to be present physically/virtually and available emotionally.

Learning our lover’s likes, desires, and aspirations and being their number one cheerleader. We win when they win; when they feel pain, we uplift them, and vice versa.

It is imperative to surprise those we love with thoughtful gifts, It doesn’t always have to be elaborate (although we appreciate grand gestures sometimes- a thousand red roses and designer handbags do the trick). A ‘thinking of you’ gift always brings forth a smile. A ‘just because…’ surprise trip is exciting too, a back rub eases stress, and breakfast in bed screams ‘I care about you.’ This daily accumulation of positive gestures waters love, sustains love, and grows love.

As cliché as it may sound, a celebration of love should be a daily occurrence. 

Galentine’s Love Circle

Galentine’s is for our soul sisters; to celebrate our love, the feeling of being enough in our skin, and resting in femininity and softness. We revel in self-love, community love, and the euphoric sense of camaraderie.

Our girl friends are the wind beneath our wings, the village we thrive within, the girls we clink our champagne glasses with, celebrating every win, dancing the night away, and catching up on coffee dates. The girls we catch flights and explore the world with, and if ever the need arises, swap therapist contacts details with. During our low moments, they are there with soothing words, a warm embrace, a shoulder to cry on, and are ready to dissect the problem and proffer solutions.

Galentine’s is a great time to celebrate the love that binds non-biological sisters, those we are fortunate to have crossed paths with on this journey called life.

So, send flowers, a love note of appreciation, or plan a Galentine’s party- be it a pyjamas sleepover with a table spread of pastel-coloured sweet treats, a dinner party with heels, crystals, and champagne, or a head-bobbing, booty-hopping, DJ-pon-the-rewind disco fiesta. Have fun with your soul sisters. They make our world that much sweeter! 

Solo Love – The Ultimate Elixir

Self-love on Valentine’s day is the ultimate elixir to romanticise your life and your being, reminding yourself of all the reasons why you are head-over-heels in love with yourself. 

Being single is one of the best times for self-discovery and falling deeply in love with the multi-facets of your life. A time to do as you please without answering to anyone, having sole proprietorship over where and how you spend your time- what an advantage!

So, go ahead and shower all your love on yourself; you are worthy of affection and undivided attention. 

You can buy yourself flowers, and beautify your space with sweets smelling petals, bask in a soft aura, and choose only to see beauty. 

You can have your nails adorned with pretty hearts, a facial with soothing oils, a pedicure to relax, and steaming in the sauna to take all the stress away. Looking our best tends to elevate how we feel on the inside. 

You can wine and dine yourself. You deserve fine dining, taking in all the details of our beautiful world while sipping bubbly and wearing your favourite outfit that makes you feel like the goddess you are.

If you are a homebody, you can cosy with a cup of tea for the soul, a good book, or some comfort foods, not forgetting to wear comfy loungewear that feels soft to the touch- silk is a favourite, and light some sweet scented candles to set the mood. 

You can bake cupcakes and design them with your favourite frosting- the goal is to create an alluring, cosy, and soft ambiance to bask in romantically and enjoy this precious time with yourself, whether you are swaying your hips to delicate musical notes or tucked in bed watching your all-time favourite movie.