First Published 15 February 2024

What day is today?

Well as I missed Galantines day on Tuesday (interestingly – well I thought so – this phrase was coined in 2010 in the tv show ‘Parks and Recreation’),  and Valentine day (we won’t go in to the gruesome backstory on that one!), I thought I would find out what today is….

Apparently, today is a lot of things!

I’m trying to decide which I like best out of:

• ‘Singles appreciation day (yes – we deserve a day too 😉),
• National Gumdrop day (this just makes me think of Shrek) or
• World Hippo day….

While I have nothing against Hippos or gumdrops – I am going to delve in to Singles Appreciation Day,

Putting to one side the meddling well meaning friends and relatives who are concerned about when are you going to get a partner, aren’t you getting old – surely you need to settle down…. why do we need to appreciate the singles?

(fun fact – it’s also known as Singles Awareness day – I’m trying to work that one out – what exactly is it about the single person do we need to be aware of…? Why is there not a Smug Married People Awareness day?  That would make way more sense…😜)

Apparently it was designed as a day for single people to celebrate, a time for non-singles to appreciate the single people in their life and a time to recognise and celebrate other kinds of love whether that is love between friends and family and loving yourself.

So, who do you love? Take a moment to think of all the people in your life that you love.  Can you name at least 5?

When you were mentally making that list,  was your own name on it?  Were you near the top of the list, or perhaps more likely, were you missing from your list altogether?

I’ve worked with a number of clients in the past who have had ‘self love’ come up in sessions.  And, I’ve had varying responses.  One client physically couldn’t say the words ‘I love myself’, another was set off in fits of giggles every time they tried to say it and more commonly I’ve seen people look or comment on feeling really uncomfortable at the concept.

But, why is this?

Why do so many of us spend time not appreciating ourselves to the point where we can’t say the words ‘I love myself’?

If we want other people to love us, surely we need to love ourselves first?

So, my request to you on this Singles appreciation day – regardless of your relationship status – is to take some time to appreciate yourself.

Can you do one thing today that is just for you?

Can you write a list of 10 things about yourself that you are proud of, that make you you – or maybe 10 things you have achieved in your life?

If 10 is easy, can you make it 25 things.

If 10 is hard, step out of the comfort zone and ask a friend to help you – normally the people we surround ourselves with can see our awesomeness much more easily than we can see it in ourselves.

And what would a Singles Appreciation Day be without a quote from Sex in the City:

Being single used to mean that nobody wanted you. Now it means you’re pretty sexy and you’re taking your time deciding how you want your life to be and who you want to spend it with.

Carrie Bradshaw

So – take that time and chose who you want to spend your time with, and once you have basked in your own wonderfulness – please do take a moment to let your single friends know how much to appreciate them 😊