Love Thyself

Valentine’s Day tells us to remember to show our love to the special people around us. But as the world celebrates this season of love, let us not forget to show love for ourselves, too. Single, confused, in a relationship, engaged, blissfully married, or suffering, there are a lot of ways to show you love yourself. Here’s a few of the lessons I learned:

1. Take regular visits to the doctor/dentist. Prevention is always better than cure, that is always true. Regular visits to the doctor or dentist are still so much better compared to emergency trips. This has always been my problem. I only see these people when I’m feeling the signs that something’s not right or I’m already in pain. Aside from the physical pain, emergency visits also end up hurting my wallet. In just one visit to the dentist, I spent P2,500 for a deep cleaning gum treatment, compared to something like P400 for regular teeth cleaning, which can be taken every six months. So the lesson here is to save ourselves from dealing with more pain by seeking the experts to assess our health regularly.

Say ‘cheese’! I asked the dentist for teeth cleaning, but she suggested gum extraction. It sounded like she’s gonna take off my gums, but what she really meant was deeper cleaning because my gums were already swollen. After this horrible mess, I vowed to follow my dentist’s order.

My new companions. Nowadays, routine takes longer. Brush teeth. Gargle, Massage gums. So kids (and stubborn adults like me), brush your teeth after every meal.

2. Listen to your body. Last month, I suddenly began to feel my eyes becoming more sensitive to the light, especially in front of a computer. My eyes would tear up and my vision strained and it was more difficult to focus. I finally went to see an optometrist. My visual acuity shot up to 20/625 (right) and 20/575 (left). My eyeglasses, now with anti-glare, and contact lenses were adjusted accordingly.

I can see clearly now…thanks to my reliable eyeglasses and contact lenses. Thank you to my sponsors. LOL

There are also instances when I needed to see an OB/GYN. I am regularly seeing an OB/GYN in Manila due to solid nodules (mass) in my left breast and dysfunctional uterine bleeding. (Ladies, when you are already bleeding for more than a week, consider seeing an expert; also visiting an OB/GYN does not always mean pregnant so don’t be shy.)

Listening to your body is paying attention to its early signs and warnings. Listening to your body can save you.

3. Reward yourself. This does not need a lengthy explanation. If you feel you deserve or need it, give yourself a reward that could further boost your confidence and energy, or on one hand could help you relax more. What I did after sleepless nights wracking my brains for a tedious paper? I indulged in a spa! I recommend the relaxation massage service in Prince Jireh Spa, which has branches in Makati, West Ave., and Cubao. Get a facial. Feast on comfort food. Read a book. Shop. Go ahead and kick the stress away!

4. Unload. Spend time in prayer. Jesus actually wants us to unload and release whatever is holding us down. He wants us to have peace of mind and in spirit. Here’s His gentle invitation:

²⁸ “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.³⁰ For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

You are probably wondering why doing exercises, eating healthy, and getting proper amounts of sleep are not on the list. That’s because I am still a work in progress on these areas. I would love to write about them in the future.

I hope you’ll have a wonderful Valentine’s Day or Love Month celebration. Just remember, when you feel good inside, you also radiate that love, warmth, and happiness to others. ♥ Happy hearts day! ♥