I'm not. . . but I'm trying! So let me share with you what I've learned about love over the years. 

I want to cover a few different ideas which may not tie together very neatly, but that is the beauty of love. . . it is all emcompassing!

i want to cover the following:

1) How to love yourself more

2) How to love others better

3) How to shift Valentine's day from being a commercially crappy holiday (that also destroys our waistlines and brings annoyance to any single woman, because well it's stupid) to a day where

WE CAN LOVE BIGGER 

(i.e. make it about global love and not about romantic love)

Let's get started!

1) How to love yourself more. 

"You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection".

This was a misquoted Buddha quote so I can't attribute it, but the interpretation is still a powerful statement. 

I hated the term "self-love" until I understood what it meant. So feel free to ditch the words and focus on the actions. 

Self love is looking in the mirror and thanking your eyes for being able to see your reflection, thanking your legs for carrying through this world, thanking your arms for allowing you to embrace those you love. 

It is speaking clearly about your needs and surrounding yourself with those who meet them.

It is taking care of your body, soul, heart and mind through thoughts & actions that are supportive and not destructive. 

When we take care of all aspects of our life we start to crowd out the voice that says we don't deserve things or that we are unloveable, because we are showing up for ourselves every single day. 

That negative voice in our heads can still exist, but by practicing the above it can become smaller and less powerful allowing ourselves to love ourselves MORE!

Me in New York the Day before I moved to Barcelona. literally surrounded by love!

2) How to love others better.

"If you love a flower, don't pick it up. Because if you pick it up, it ceases to be what you love. So if you love a flower, let it be. Love is not about Possession. Love is about appreciation." - Osho

Conventional love can breed jealously, insecurity, anger, and fear. But that is because we are coming from a place where we want to capture love. It feels so fragile and fleeting that we are afraid if we don't hold on tight enough it will disappear forever and we will be left alone. 

It is a great practice to Love fearlessly & without attachment. Give love to all. Everyone at work, every stranger on the street, to your family and partners. When I say to "give love" I am talking about opening your heart to all. It can be through a smile, through listening, through really looking into someone's eyes deeply and SEEING them. 

Giving love can be as simple and as powerful as making people feel seen. 

Give this and move on. Do not attach to the idea that you then deserve something in return. Give abundantly and freely and see how the love you feel expands. It will return naturally but you must let go of that expectation first. For those who do not reciprocate, love them anyways and move on. 

(Please note: This does not include unrequited love or staying in an abusive relationship. Loving yourself more here is key!) 

3) HOW WE CAN LOVE BIGGER

"Love is a state of being. Your love is not outside; it is deep within you. You can never lose it, and it cannot leave you." - Eckhart Tolle

I used to hate Valentine's Day. It never felt authentic to me. However, that all changed when I discovered a movement that co-opted Valentine's day for themselves. 

Vday.org
 

I found this organization at a time when I was just discovering my own self worth in this world. When I started to find my own voice and my value as a woman. When I found a deeper sisterhood and love for my female friends and for all women in the world. 

I finally felt that I had SOMETHING BIGGER AND BETTER to do on V-day! 

If you are not a fan of this day and are looking for ways to LOVE BIGGER, I recommend you check out this organization (or another one that resonates with you more) and see where you can make a difference in this world. 

We need more love in this world and what better way than to support others who need it! 

Vday.org is a Global Activist Movement to End Violence Against Women and Girls. 

"One of every three women in the world will personally experience physical or sexual violence." -United Nations
 

I don't know about you but this ain't love!!! 

We make up half of the global population and yet 

where is the love?!
 

If you have a vagina, or love someone in possession of a vagina this is a great global movement to get behind. (Yes, I said vagina. Maybe if we said it more we would love them more!) 

To wrap this all up:

Let today and every day be about Loving yourself more, loving others better, and loving bigger! 
 

I promise that if you do these 3 things, Valentine's Day will be one of your new favorite days of the year! 

-Janine

It's been almost 20 years since V-Day was founded, since Eve Ensler's play "The Vagina Monologues" shattered taboos, sharing the stories of women as they had never been told before. 2018 will be our 20th year.

Holidays can be a wonderful time of year but they can also bring your stress levels through the roof! 

When your body feels stress, it can create more cravings for those fatty, sweet and salty foods that are generally not great for your waistline. 

Stress also takes a toll on your mental well being. 

To help combat the holiday weight gain & mental meltdown here are some much needed reminders for all! 

1. BREATHE

Deep breaths help lower your cortisol levels, bring much needed oxygen to your body & help keep you calm when you most need it. This is so simple yet SO hard during the holiday season. Practice, practice, practice and you will be able to get through the most stressful of moments.

2. SET AN INTENTION

Set an intention for the holiday. Without intention you can feel scattered.  It's easier to get back on track when you have an intention. Examples of Intentions: Enjoy my family / Stress Less / Focus on Love / Find Connection / Self Care. 

3. HYDRATE

You have 37 TRILLION cells in your body that all need you to feed them. Water is the elixir of life! It will help you have more energy, eat less, feel less stressed, and not pack on the holiday pounds.

4. CREATE SPACE

Family gatherings can lead to boundary issues, arguments & stress. Plan in down time for YOU! Create space in the morning & at night to reconnect with you and consciously add 30 second-1 minute YOU times during the day. Something as little as 30 second recharges can keep you going all season long.

5. SLEEP

You know you are not getting enough! And it is HARD! I get it! Make a plan and try to add even just 20 minutes + a night here and there. You deserve it. Your body will thank you every single day! 

6. EAT CLEAN

Holidays pack on the stress and pack on the pounds. Enjoy large feasts during the core times, but make the rest of the times as healthy as possible to support your immune system during cold season, keep you sans regrets come January and keep you emotionally balanced.

7. JOY

PLAN your JOY! Joy is not something that happens to you, it is something in your power to create. Schedule in a massage, tea with a friend, a soak in a tub, a morning walk. Make a list of all the things that bring you Joy and reference it frequently! 

Set your intention on ONE of these each day and see how it goes. Some days you will sail through like a champ and others stress may get the best of you. And that's ok! Set the intention to practice, practice, practice and ENJOY! 

In health & holidays,

-Janine