Arguably one of the most loved and most hated holidays is coming up this Sunday- Valentine’s Day. Valentine’s conjures up a mixed bag of emotions and opinions every year. You have some who say it’s a scam for the card companies to make money (probably true), some say it’s a fun holiday and others hate it passionately.

Speaking from my own experiences on the holiday, I usually spend it alone. I would stay off of social media almost all day so I didn’t have to see any of the cheesy posts of people who swear they’re with the love of their life. Romantic comedies would be my company along with a smorgasbord of food. This Valentine’s, I will have the pleasure of being one of the couples who posts cheesy photos that I have for so long despised.

Personally, I’m excited about the holiday this year, but I know some may be struggling to find that excitement. Maybe you’re single, maybe you are dealing with heartbreak or you could care less about it. No matter the case, the core of Valentine’s, love, shouldn’t be alienated.

Love is understanding, caring, forgiving, supporting and an ethereal experience. Now, I know this sounds mushy gushy, but I have a point. I can’t help you with your relationships, but I can help you with self-love. Self-love is the most important form of love out there.

Hear me out, if you are depriving yourself from the love that you deserve from yourself, how can you accept yourself? How can you believe in yourself? How can you have confidence? You can’t. Let’s be real here, you are the most important person in your life. You matter so much.

Having self-love increases self-acceptance, personal growth and confidence. It also decreases anxiety and stress. Ultimately, it makes you a hot girl or boy. There is nothing wrong with loving yourself full-heartedly.

An easy way to start practicing self-love is by writing down the things that you like about yourself. Read this list every day, or every week, whatever you have time for. Forget all the negatives that may try to come to mind when doing this. You are not the negative things that your mind says you are.

The journey of self-love is incredibly hard and messy. It is a journey that I am still walking. I cannot stress enough how important it is to fall in love with yourself. There’s no reason not to because there is no one else out there that is you. You are special. You deserve love, from yourself and others. Fall in love with yourself this Valentine’s.

Gillian Eubanks junior health communications major. She can be reached at 581-2812 or gdeubanks@eiu.edu