Why I was almost crushed on Valentine's Day (and what I learned)
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Valentine's Day just passed, but I have a sweet little story to inspire you to keep the love flowing that I shared in Radical Radiance: 12 Weeks of Self-Love Rituals to Manifest Abundance, Beauty, and Joy.
A few years ago, as the holiday approached, I couldn't help feeling a little nervous about how my partner and I would celebrate Valentine's Day. It was our first year together and we were still navigating our cultural differences.
I confided in my hairdresser, Donnie, that I worried about the possibility of getting him a gift and not receiving one in return. I didn’t want to feel crushed and disappointed—this new dating experience was definitely testing my comfort zone!
But Donnie, the best advice giver (as so many hairdressers are!), had some sage wisdom to offer. He encouraged me to talk to my partner about my thoughts, and together we could manage our expectations and avoid any potential disappointment.
As it turned out, my partner had a beautiful philosophy that he shared with me that evening.
"I'm not crazy about celebrating love on one day," he said. "We should treat every day like Valentine's Day and focus on 'little sweets'. We make morning coffee for each other, give massages, and write gratitude notes daily. These little moments are much more important than the big ones."
So instead of planning an extravagant date, he introduced me to the concept of "little sweets." Instead of having one day to celebrate love, he taught me we should focus on small, thoughtful things for each other daily.
While he did surprise me with gifts on February 14th, it was the "little sweets" philosophy that has resonated with me (and us), day in and day out.
So, inspired by my partner's wisdom, I decided to spread some joy of my own. I started practicing the art of giving "little sweets" to my friends and family.
For example, I sent a text to a friend telling her how much I appreciated her, and it made her day. I left a note for my mom with a compliment before leaving the house, and it made her week. I even Venmoed an employee $20 with an inspirational “lunch is on me!” message, and it made her month.
And the beauty of it all is that these "little sweets" are not just for special occasions. They can be given any day, at any time, to anyone.
Here are some ideas for friends and family:
Do an unexpected chore for someone else.
Zoom with a friend to do a “roll + glow” session with face rollers and beauty serums.
Bring a special treat to a work meeting.
Gift a friend your favorite new discovery, such as a hand cream or bath salts.
Get loved ones together for a cozy movie night.
Surprise someone with hard-to-get chocolate, candy, or specialty food.
Set up a weekend "walk and talk" for some bonding time.
So now that Valentine’s Day has come and gone, let's keep the celebration of love going every day with "little sweets" that bring warmth and joy to our lives.
After all, it's the little things that matter the most! xx, Angela
Edited excerpt from RADICAL RADIANCE: 12 Weeks of Self-Love Rituals by Angela Jia Kim.
Copyright © 2022 by the author and reprinted with permission of St. Martin's Publishing Group.
