You Do You Boo

Yesterday was Valentine’s Day…Just in case you needed a reminder. I’ve been thinking a lot about my Valentine’s Days of years past, and I have to say…yesterday was pretty fabulous!

For the first time in years, I felt calm, relaxed, happy, and LOVED. Pretty amazing considering I’m single now. Go figure.

Valentine’s Day is the kind of Hallmark holiday designed to make singles feel self-conscious and inferior in some way. And, sometimes it’s the loneliest day in the world even when you’re with someone. (That’s probably a sign that you shouldn’t be with that someone, by the way.)

Anyway…My point is that Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be a day where you’re dependant on someone else to make you feel cherished or loved or attractive. All those things are nice, great in fact, but if they’re true you feel it all year round.

I’m speaking to everyone, not just my fellow sisters-in-arms out there in the trenches.

Now, this isn’t just another self-empowerment motivational post. Okay…it might be a little of that. But, you know that since I came out with my Official Public Statement of getting divorced, I’ve been on a mission of self-exploration (get those minds out of the gutter), and happiness.

I know you’re dying to know, so I’m going to tell you why yesterday was so fantabulous.

1. I woke up to my 2 delicious boys.
2. Went to my kitchen, Lange’s Deli, to pick up my extra-large coffee and some chocolate croissants for the kiddies. (Incidentally, every time I’m in there, the guys at Lange’s give me the love.)
3. While waiting for said coffee and croissants, one of my favorite people in the world walked in, my close friend Lauren (you looked gorgeous as always, by the way), and we got to catch-up a little.
4. I had a yummy cozy breakfast with those 2 yummy boys.
5. Spent my drive into the city talking to my Dad, and feeling the love and gratitude for having a wonderful family.
6. Had no traffic while driving into the city.
7. Spent the day with “My Valentine,” my best friend, my soul sister, my family…Kris.
8. Kris and I decided to kick it old school, and headed to our old diner, Cafe Luka on 71st and 1st.
9. Had an amazing egg-white omelette with spinach, tomato, and mushrooms cooked well done, dry as bone, and burnt. (Just in case you want to whip one of these up for me, you should know how I like it.)
10. Kris and I laughed. We told stupid silly stories about boys and sex. We shared secrets. And, we revealed our political picks for President. Then we agreed to disagree about who had the better candidate. I’ll give you a hint; Kris likes Bill O’Reilly, and I love Bill Maher. Do the math.
11. I dragged Kris for Hot Chocolate with chocolate shavings and whip-cream. She watched me have said hot chocolate.
12. Had no traffic while driving home.
13. Spent the night watching stupid mindless TV with those 2 delicious boys, and fell asleep reading one of my trashy, yet fantastic, books.

My boys at Lange’s. That’s Juan on the left and Sal on the right. They fight over who gets to make me my coffee. What can I say….

“My Valentine.” Kris. We look like we’re playing dress-up. This was actually taken in January. Sadly, no pics were taken yesterday.

For a day which celebrates love, I had it in spades, and went to sleep feeling grateful. I wasn’t worried about pleasing someone else, and I wasn’t on edge about what I was doing or what I wasn’t doing. I was myself, and I was with people I loved and who I know love me, and not just one day a year.

I wear this necklace, which says “LOVED,” to always remind myself that I am loved. And, yesterday I didn’t need any reminders. I guess what I’m really trying to get across is that you alone are enough. You don’t need anyone else to validate you, and you certainly don’t need to be something else to please anyone else.

You do you, Boo.

Now, all this being said, I do have a date on Wednesday, which I happen to be looking forward to, so I’m thinking this may be the perfect time to start that dating series I’ve been planning. Stay tuned…

What did you do for Valentine’s Day?