Last year on Valentine’s day, I was single. For some, this may seem like your worst nightmare. For others, this ain’t really a big deal. Fortunately, I was part of the latter. Instead of feeding into the pessimism of others on my Facebook feed and whining, “All those happy couples can suck it!” or “This holiday freakin’ SUCKS! Screw love” or “Blah, blah, blah, I am so unhappy being single”, I decided to be a ray of sunshine for my friends and offer my fellow singles a change of perspective on this love-it-or-hate-it holiday. I posted a status on Facebook along these lines: “I have the best Valentine’s this year… MYSELF! To all those people who are single… take some time to love YOURSELF today! You can be alone without being lonely! Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone!”

No matter your relationship status on this year’s holiday dedicated to love, don’t forget to love, cherish, and appreciate the one that matters most: yourself.  If you’re taken tomorrow, celebrate the romance in your life with your partner and with yourself. You cannot fully feel secure in your relationship unless you are first secure with yourself, so appreciate that your self-love enables you to have a happy and healthy relationship with another. If you’re single tomorrow, instead of moping around and falling into a depressed funk, take some time to appreciate the relationship you have with you. If you feel the need, even go all out and buy yourself roses and chocolates or write yourself a love letter. You deserve it, as you are your own #1.

Regardless of who you’re celebrating tomorrow’s holiday with, I put together a few of my favorite quotes on self-love to help inspire you to love yourself every day, including Valentine’s Day:

“You can explore the universe looking for somebody who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and you will not find that person anywhere.”
-Anonymous

“Love yourself first and everything else falls into line. You really have to love yourself to get anything done in this world.” –Lucille Ball

“Happiness comes from within. Not from men.” -Unknown

“If you put a small value on yourself, rest assured that the world will not raise your price.” -Unknown

“If you are lonely when you are alone, you are in bad company.” -Jean-Paul Sartre

Single or taken, the most important Valentine you’ll ever have is yourself. When you can learn to love and accept yourself just as you are, a whole new world of ever-lasting happiness and endless opportunities opens up to you. When you place a high value upon yourself, you will know how great and magnificent you are and will create the type of life you believe you are worthy of. You can climb to your full potential and live your dream life by learning to love and accept yourself for who you are. You cannot fully be happy without first being happy with yourself.

With that being said, hope you all have a wonderful, happy, loving Valentine’s Day tomorrow! Celebrate!

Happy loving myself,

Jordan Brown

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