IN WHICH I CONSIDER THE IMPORTANCE OF YOU BEING YOUR OWN BIGGEST FAN.
February 14th, Valentine’s Day–the day we celebrate love–don’t forget, dear reader, the great love of your life is, in fact, you. You simply can’t love others unless you’ve given that love first to yourself.
Consider the flight attendant’s instructions prior to takeoff: If the oxygen mask drops, first affix yours, then that of your child. This seems almost counter-intuitive to a loving parent; however, using common sense, what good are you to your loved one if you’re not, yourself, one hundred percent?
Similarly, when you have a full pitcher of water, you are able to share, and generously. When you are filled to the brim with self-love, you have an abundance of love to give abundantly to others.
Society has trained us to expect certain Hallmark hallmarks for holidays, and Valentine’s Day is no exception. The “shoulds” around Valentine’s Day involve being wined and dined, and receiving such staples as love notes, roses, chocolates, jewelry, and sexy lingerie. I, Mrs. Hot, intend to celebrate myself exactly so.
I’ll start the day with drawing a large heart on my bathroom mirror with my Chanel Pirate Red lipstick, and writing inside it, “I love you!” I’ll have the vase ready for the red roses I ordered for myself, and after lovingly arranging them, I’ll dress in a drop-dead chic ensemble and take myself to lunch at my favorite French restaurant, the most elegant and pretty in New York, La Grenouille.
I’ll have a massage, manicure and pedicure, then after, shop for chocolate truffles at Jacques Torres, buy something slinky at La Perla and treat myself to a glittery trinket—it need not be Cartier— but it must be divinely frivolous and indulgent. Then, I’ll take time to do something I love, but seldom have enough time for. In my case, that might be taking a bellydance class, then a long soak in a fragrant tub, and curling up to read a classic novel.
Others’ idea of self-love and indulgence will be totally different. But whatever that is, it’s all good. Even if the budget only allows for a Big Mac, Hershey’s bar, and a splurge at K-Mart, on this day there’s neither (unnecessary) work, nor dieting, nor deprivation of any kind.
I’m spoiling and celebrating my hot self: my uniqueness, my fabulousness, my femininity, my body, my sensuality, my worthiness to be loved. Whatever comes, then, as a Valentine salute from those Hunka Hunka Burnin’ Loves in my life, is simply the icing on the red velvet cake that is ME.
Because, whether those men come through or not, this Goddess has the hottest date ever, scheduled — a Three-Way between Me, Myself and I.
Yours truly,