I am not a Grinch, I promise you! I'm kind of a hopeless romantic to tell you the truth. However something about certain holidays being 'high jacked' in the name of capitalism just rubs me the wrong way. So now that we are done with the commercial 'love holiday' that is Valentine's Day, let's get real about self love.
For the past years I have established a January ritual of making my vision board and booking a yoga retreat for pleasure and not work. This year I was particularly affected by the infamous winter 'blues', that emotional funk that many of us get stuck in after the celebrations and time off that comes with the Holiday season. Oh man, it hit me hard this year! So I was actually counting down the days for the retreat and because the Universe has a way of teaching us about patience, this year when I felt like I really needed it, I would have to wait until February.
At last the retreat was here and it was exactly what I needed. Just a day with myself to get real and honest and raw. To pause from the every day hustle to breathe, nurture and fill my cup. Reconnecting with the good things that live within me, but also calling myself out on my shit. One of the ladies joining at the retreat saw my face of bliss the morning after the first day and we both smiled that conspicuous smile that says 'I am so happy!'. I knew she was mom to a 10 month old baby and that she probably had a lot of the same feelings I was experiencing, then she said "I feel like I love myself again, like where have you been this whole time?". And it hit me, this little act of self love, of stepping away from our families for one overnight retreat wasn't just an act of love to ourselves, but our loved ones.
Since coming back I've felt connected to myself again. I realized that I am so much more patient, kind, happy, focused, full. That everyone that comes in contact with me will hopefully feel and feed off of that good energy that I took time to cultivate. That when you love yourself, that love spreads and touches everyone around you. Love starts with you.
"To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance" - Oscar Wilde
