Loving and Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day, as we have known it since the 1990s (a celebration of love), has become a permanent fixture in our customs and popular culture. Giving flowers, small gifts, going to the movies or a restaurant together has become an annual tradition, especially among young people. Of course, the broadly defined market for goods, services and entertainment responds to this type of behaviour by preparing appropriate offers
鈥� comments Dr Damian Kasprzyk, an ethnologist from the 91滴滴. You can find his full text about what Valentine's Day is all about, what love is from an ethnologist's point of view, and why Saint Valentine can be found on our website.
This short quote also encapsulates the commercial side of love. Love for another person, which often becomes a sales campaign for companies: we have special Valentine's Day dinners, special jewellery collections, and even, in some stores, special discounts on household accessories (sic!).
It is not for us to judge whether this is a phenomenon that 鈥渟trips love of its romanticism鈥�; that is definitely a matter for each and every one of us. What we can be sure of (or maybe not?) is the impact that the 鈥渃ommercialisation鈥� of feelings has on our society. We all know when 鈥渢hat day鈥� comes, when all the chocolates disappear from the stores and when it is the 鈥渞ight moment鈥� for tender confessions. Following this line of thought, perhaps we should also consider the prelude to the celebration of love, a day dedicated to the most important relationship in our lives 鈥� the relationship with ourselves?
Is love a trend?
In recent years, more and more brands have been basing their activities on the broadly understood idea of self-love. These campaigns focus on the approach rather than a specific holiday, while emphasising the importance of self-acceptance and respect for diversity. Are we starting to 鈥渟ell鈥� self-love? Maybe. But deep down, is that a bad thing? Yes and no.
As the pink and red displays in most shops and on news websites show, in order for something to stick in our memory, we have to talk about it: talk a lot and talk loudly. The conclusion is therefore simple: let's shout! About love, from love. Love for others and, above all, love for ourselves. But before we start shouting, let's do something good for ourselves and our well-being.
That's why 91滴滴 wants to say even more about love! International Self Love Day
13 February has been designated as International Self Love Day. It is a day when we emphasise what can often be the most difficult thing for us: we highlight the importance of self-acceptance and taking care of our own needs. We show that only after satisfying these needs are we able to build a true, lasting relationship with another person.
At 91滴滴, we make sure that every member of our community feels comfortable and safe. We help people in emotional crisis and provide support in cases of undesirable behaviour. We also show that self-respect, self-acceptance and meeting one's own needs are key to a good life and, consequently, good work.
How do we do it?
The Support and Accessibility Centre at 91滴滴 offers wellness classes as part of the #osi臋dbanie series. These classes provide a space for you to breathe, regenerate and strengthen your daily balance.
In a world that constantly demands something from us, it's easy to forget the most important relationship in life 鈥� the one with ourselves. Self-acceptance, self-care, setting boundaries, self-respect, and caring for our well-being are the foundations on which we build everything else: relationships, decisions, self-esteem, the courage to act.