The Most Important Relationship

I have been single most of my life, so I spent most of the Valentine’s Days single.

When I was younger, I would be super envious of the people who ended up finding their love, whom they can celebrate Valentine’s Day with together. To love and be loved romantically, what a wonderful feeling that must be!

However, as years go by, the definition of love and relationships to celebrate on Valentine’s Day became broader and broader. I’ve since then celebrated Valentine’s Day with my date, and I’ve celebrated Galentine’s Day with my girlfriends. Most importantly, I’ve celebrated Valentine’s Day with myself. I cooked up a wonderful dinner by myself. Went for a walk with myself. Read a book. Watched a movie with myself. At the end of the day, I had the whole bed to myself. Truly, it’s a wonderful day.

When I was younger, I’d be uncomfortable when I was alone. I felt sad and disconnected to the world. Now, I know that it is critical to have time alone and connect from within. I sense my own emotions, energy level, and needs. I ask myself: What should I do to make me happier? And I do exactly that. By providing happiness to me, by me, I regained strength and power.

To quote a role model of mine, the wonderful Diane Von Fürstenberg:

“Love is about relationships, yet the most important relationship is the one you have with yourself. Who else is with you at all times? Who else feels the pain when you are hurt? The shame when you are humiliated? Who can smile at your small satisfactions and laugh at your victories but you? Who understands your moments of fear and loneliness better? Who can console you better than you? You are the one who possesses the keys to your being. You carry the passport to your own happiness.
You cannot have a good relationship with anyone, unless you first have it with yourself. Once you have that, any other relationship is a plus, and not a must.”

Cheers to a great Valentine’s Day, with the love of your life, with your friends, with whoever and whatever that give you love and are loved by you, and with yourself! <3