I love you

Happy Valentines Day!!

When most people think of their health they think of their nutrition and fitness habits, as well as any diagnosed health conditions. What about mental health? Happiness? Relationships? Work life? Family life? These are all important aspects of your health as well. (And connected more than you might even realize to your physical health.)

In honor of valentines Day I thought I should stray a bit from my normal health and fitness talk. Besides…who am I to tell you not to eat chocolate on Valentines Day? 🙂

However, there are a few things I will ask you to do today.  We can all work on becoming healthier by loving others and loving ourselves.

Tell someone you love him/her.

Have you told anyone that you love them today? No? Well…get on it. Call your husband, boyfriend, mom, dad, son, daughter, friend, etc. and let them know how you feel with these 3 simple words. Whether you are married, in a relationship, or flying solo, it’s still a good day to cherish your relationships and let those around you know how you feel. I know it’s just one day and I also believe that you should tell people how you feel every day or as often as you can, but let’s just use this day as a reminder of how important it is to love and to feel loved in return. And yes, this can lead to being healthy!

Love yourself.

This is a toughie. Try today to look at yourself and see the things that you love instead of looking at your flaws. No one else wants to hear that you think your thighs are too big or that you’re tired of your muffin top. That’s not going to make or break whether someone loves you. The best love is unconditional and certainly not based on how much you weigh or what size pants you wear!

Starting today work towards loving yourself unconditionally. Did you eat too much junk this weekend? Who cares. You can still love yourself. (You can make better choices next time, but why worry about the past which you can’t change?) Remember that no one is perfect. Don’t you find yourself more attracted to those who are confident and show themselves love and respect?

And a special one for you married folks out there –

Unfortunately, I hear so many people bad-mouthing their marriage to anyone and everyone. This is rude and disrespectful. Please don’t do it. If you’re having marital trouble, talk to your spouse. Be open with him/her and get help from a professional if you need it. Marriage counseling can be a very good thing!

Sometimes marriages don’t work out and divorce might be the best option, but if you’re  in the relationship for the long run then why on earth are you wasting your time bad-mouthing the person who should be your best friend and your true love? Stop it. If someone around you is doing this, you may want to gently remind them that they chose this person for a reason and maybe even subtly let them know they’re being a jerk. Wouldn’t the world be a better place if people respected their husbands and wives and spoke highly of each other instead of this constant complaining and bashing we all hear so often? I’d say so.

Now, I realize I am not a relationship expert and many people might even consider me still a newlywed since I have been married less than 3 years. However, I do know that relationships (and marriages) take work. Lots of work. But they can be so rewarding and wonderful if you’re willing to put in the work. My husband and I constantly encourage each other – we push each other physically and challenge each other mentally. Are we perfect? Heck no. We fight just like anyone else, but in the end we love each other and that wins out. We have to work together to find solutions or compromise (sometimes this is easier than other times!), but this isn’t a reason to complain to coworkers or even complete strangers about my marriage! I’m thankful and blessed to have a wonderful husband in my life. I’m thankful for my faith and the unconditional love I receive from Jesus. I’m thankful for an abundance of amazing family members and friends in my life. I’m thankful for my body and how hard it’s working these days to create our son. Life really is amazing. 🙂

What are you thankful for today? What do you love about your body? Who do you love that needs to hear it most today?