5 February 2010 - 13:42What’s Love Got to Do with It?
For the last eight years, I have celebrated Valentine’s Day with a significant other. I’d like to think that we stayed clear of the clichés and put our own spin on the day. We supported local restaurants, organic and fair trade products, sweat-free clothing shops and other independent businesses. No blood diamonds for us!
This February, there is no better half, and Valentine’s Day is way more annoying than it used to be. Unless you are holed up in some sort of dungeon with no TV or computer, Valentine’s Day ads are everywhere – reminding you that you are single and should not expect to have a romantic surprise to look forward to.
But Valentine’s Day doesn’t just annoy the recently-single. It has a bad rap among enviro-conscious people with its crass commercialism and its forced love message. So if you find yourself annoyed this Valentine’s Day, here are some eco-savvy ways to make it a little more bearable!
1. Surround yourself with people who share your values (environmental or otherwise)
Maybe now is the time to join that action and resistance group you’ve wanted to or look into some community gardening opportunities for the spring. If you’re not up for meeting new people quite yet, hang with your crew. They like being around you and will keep you busy.
2. Make a coffee date (at an independent coffee shop)
Still not wanting to see lots of people? Then opt for one-on-one time with someone who brings you comfort or who inspires you. Now might be the time to reconnect with an influential person in your life who has provided you with guidance in the past. Is there someone that you admire intellectually or creatively?
3. Indulge in some organic sweets and treats
Hey, we all have to eat right? What better way to treat yourself and put some money towards equitable consumption. A truly win-win scenario.
4. Make a commitment to your health, holistically
Are there several things ailing you? Sore back and neck? Digestion issues? Lack of energy? Get thinking about taking your health into your own hands. Think about how some of your issues might be inter-connected and talk to people who make those connections. Many are actually environment-related. My chiropractor practices from a holistic perspective and helps me see the connections between my eating habits, allergies, sports routine and home and work environment.
Being good to the planet is a bonus on Valentine’s Day. No matter what you choose to do, love yourself. A healthy, happy you is the greatest gift you can give yourself and to others.
How so? Once you’re firing on all cylinders, the potential you have to make some great things happen (and attract great people) is unlimited…
09 Feb 2010 - 16:42
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Earth Day Canada and Once Upon A Child , ecocentricGUIDE. ecocentricGUIDE said: RT @EarthDayCanada: Ideas to make this Valentine's Day a little more bearable for the broken-hearted and eco-savvy. http://ow.ly/15txg [...]
10 Feb 2010 - 13:23
Thank you for your inspiring blog post! To me Valentine’s Day isn’t just about romantic love, it’s about all the love in your life- love you have for yourself, your family and your friends, and even the love you have for creative passions-writing, saving the earth, singing, whatever!
In a Spanish course I’m taking, my teacher told us that there are multiple ways to say “I love you” (including: “Te quiero” for your friends and “te amo” for your significant other). This makes me think, maybe our culture needs to re-think what it means to love, that it’s not just romantic love, it is many things. Maybe we should learn to place more value on the love we share with our family and friends (after all they are the ones who will carry us through difficult break-ups right?)
Whether you are in a relationship or not, I also totally agree that being happy with yourself is “the greatest gift you can give yourself and others”. Being happy with yourself and loving yourself (while not being selfish [there is a difference]) keeps you balanced and centered and this will help you connect and help others. Maybe you will start off by helping your neighbour shovel their drive way, then you’ll help a friend raise money for a shelter, then maybe you’ll think twice about buying that sweat-shop manufactured sweater then one day, before you know it, your spreading the love by internationally advocating for human rights because you’ve realized that less fortunate people are still people and they deserve the chance to experience love- the right to love themselves through self-worth and dignity, the right to be free and love their families instead of being torn away from them and the right to love in other healthy and meaningful ways.
Valentines Day is one of those few days in a year that reminds you how much beauty is still left in this world, a good reminder when you are on the verge of being disenchanted by all the bad news that surrounds us. So thank you for reminding me that Valentines day isn’t just about Hallmark Cards, it’s about that beautiful universal feeling we all share in some way or another.
11 Feb 2010 - 8:58
I truly enjoyed this valentine’s day post! I love that it shifted away from the classic valentine’s day posts and emphasis on the purchase of extravagant gifts that no one needs and those sappy cards.
I agree with Jessie in that valentine’s day is much more than romantic love, and it got me thinking. Last week I attended an interview between the CEO of Indigo and the author of a new book entitled “The Happiness Project”. In the interview the author spoke of focusing on happiness and well-being. She made an interesting comment and spoke of how people who are genuinely happy, well-focused and committed to their well-being are much more likely to volunteer, give money to those less fortunate and join an important cause like an environmental group. I took the authors comments to mean that people who are happy, do things for themselves, focus on the little indulgences are much more likely to live for the betterment of our environment.