This was and is my jam..."Real Love" came out in 1992 and was on Mary J. Blige's What's the 411? debut studio album. And just as the song says, we are talkin' 'bout that real love this month. The kind that endures all things, and that is centered around YOU!
February has arrived and ‘Love Month” ranks right up there with Christmas for me! This is the perfect month for someone who is already ‘Team Too Much’—the grocery stores aggressively remind you that love exists with heart-shaped everything, teddy bears the size of small cars, and an overwhelming amount of pink and red.
Whether you’re in a relationship, single, situationship or somewhere amongst the three, love in February often feels like it’s reserved for couples taking slow-motion walks on the beach while sipping overpriced lattes. And is, but I’m here for that too because you know I love my HusBae! But here’s the thing—love isn’t just about romance. It’s about how we love ourselves, our experiences, and our journey. And guess what? You don’t need a significant other to experience a deep, fulfilling love story with your own life.
So here’s the mission: fall in love with your life. (Love this because it reminds me of the boutique event planning company me and my friends had years ago - Smitten Events - and our tagline was “fall in love with what we do.”)
Three Ways to Fall in Love with Life
1. Romanticize the Everyday
You don’t need a big, dramatic romance to experience love - but, again, I’m here for it ;) - you just need the right mindset. Romanticizing your life means embracing the ordinary and making it feel extraordinary.
Light the fancy candle on a Tuesday. Why are we saving the good stuff for “special occasions”? Newsflash: today is a special occasion.
Use the good dishes. Yes, even if it’s just DoorDash or frozen pizza. Life’s too short to eat off the chipped plate that survived college.
Play jazz while you cook—even if it’s just spaghetti. Or better yet, play Italian café music and pretend you’re living your best life on the Riviera.
Dress up for absolutely no reason other than to feel good about yourself. Who says you need an event to rock your favorite outfit? Now, this is the one I do often.
When you start seeing everyday moments as opportunities for joy and beauty, your whole perspective shifts. Suddenly, making a morning cup of tea feels like an elegant ritual instead of just a caffeine necessity. Walking to your car in the morning? It’s now a slow-motion movie montage. Life feels better when you are giving main character energy!
2. Date Yourself
Yes, you read that right. But, also date your mate if that is your season of life - both are wonderfully worth it! If you wouldn’t accept last-minute, low-effort plans from someone else, why do that to yourself? Take yourself on a date. Plan something fun just for you and actually follow through with it.
Go solo to brunch and order the fancy dish you usually avoid because “it’s too indulgent.” I can’t relate to this one, because I’m always doing ‘queen pin’ orders.
Take yourself shopping and buy something that makes you feel amazing (even if it’s just a really good-smelling candle).
Sit in a coffee shop with a book and pretend you’re mysterious and interesting—because you are.
Plan a weekend getaway, even if it’s just a staycation at a cute boutique hotel or setting up a cozy spa day at home. A solo trip is on my goals for this year!
When you treat yourself like someone worth planning for, you start to believe it. And the best part? You never have to argue about where to eat.
3. Speak Kindly to Yourself
Imagine this: your best friend comes to you, feeling down and doubting themselves. Would you say, “Wow, yeah, you really are failing at life”? Absolutely not. So why do we talk to ourselves like that?
If you wouldn’t say it to your best friend, don’t say it to yourself. Period.
Instead of “I’m so behind in life,” try “I’m creating my own timeline, and that’s okay.”
Replace “I look terrible today” with “I am grateful for my body and all it does for me.”
Swap “I’ll never be good at this” for “I’m learning and improving every day.”
The words we tell ourselves matter. They shape our mindset, our confidence, and ultimately, our happiness. So make self-love a habit. Write yourself a love letter, leave sticky note affirmations on your mirror, and practice the art of hyping yourself up.
BONUS: Practice Gratitude
Love grows in appreciation. The more you recognize what’s good in your life, the more you’ll feel fulfilled by it.
Start a gratitude journal and jot down three things you’re grateful for every day.
Take a few moments in the morning to appreciate the little things—a great cup of tea, the sun shining, or the fact that your WiFi didn’t glitch during an important call.
Express gratitude to the people around you. Send a random “thinking of you” text or thank someone who made your day better.
When you focus on what’s going right, your brain starts looking for more of it. Gratitude is like a muscle—the more you exercise it, the stronger it gets.
Final Thoughts:
Falling in love with your life isn’t about waiting for the perfect partner, job, or circumstance. It’s about making the choice—every day—to see, appreciate, and create beauty in your world. Whether it’s through small daily joys, treating yourself with kindness, or taking time to be grateful, love is something you cultivate, not something you wait for.
So light the candle. Wear the outfit. Play the music. Fall in love with your life, because it’s the longest relationship you’ll ever have.
Now tell me—how are you choosing love today?
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