Be Mine, But Also Be Yours

Feb 13

Episode 10: Be Mine, But Also Be Yours: Reclaiming Valentine’s Day

Valentine's Day is often a complicated and commercialized celebration, but what if we could take it back and make it about pure love? In this episode, I explore how this day, often overshadowed by romantic expectations and consumerism, can be reframed as an opportunity to celebrate all forms of love — the love we have for our partners, family, friends, neighbors, pets and most importantly, ourselves. Join me as I revisit my own Valentine's Day memories and share how shifting our focus can make this day more meaningful and authentic.

Key Themes from the Episode:

The Hallmark Holiday Trap: Valentine's Day has become a commercial holiday, with expensive flowers and dinners marking a celebration of love. But at its core, the day means more when you strip away the trappings and connect with loved ones.
Childhood Memories of Love: Recalling early Valentine's Day memories, I reflect on my dad as my first Valentine and the thrill of the Russell Stover heart shaped candy box.
Middle and High School Valentine’s Day Struggles: As we move into teenage years, Valentine’s Day starts to become more about measuring love through popularity and gifts.
Expectations vs. Reality: From an ill-planned Valentine’s Day dinner to cleaning out a closet in my third trimester, I recount how expectations can derail our experience of the day, and how embracing simplicity brought me peace.
Reinventing the Holiday: Inspired by my friend’s perspective, I realized that Valentine’s Day can be about showing love for everyone, not just a romantic partner. By focusing on pure love, we can create new traditions that are more personal and meaningful.

So, whether you love the holiday or loathe it, we’ve got ideas for making it your own. Let’s turn Valentine’s Day into something personal, something joyful, and most importantly, something real. Join us as we rethink the ways we can make the people in our lives (including ourselves) feel the love!

Additional Resources: