Four Ways to Love Yourself

Wax paper/crayon heart added to my bathroom window.

We often only think of love as loving others or caring for others. This is especially true for women. We wear so many hats...wife, mother, friend, co-worker, sister, daughter, etc. What if this February we were to stop and spend some time with ourselves and for ourselves? We can start by appreciating ourselves for all that we accomplish in our days and realizing how beautiful and talented we are.

Here are some ways to give yourself some love:

1. Schedule a luxurious professional facial, haircut, or massage. If money is an issue your can give yourself a hand or foot massage. Gathered From The Garden has a refreshing pepperminty Tired Tooties Foot Soak, Foot Powder, Foot Cream and our Pedi Balm. These are a treat for your feet! Gathered’s Cuticle Cream is a soft, creamy butter to soften up your cuticles. Our Goat Milk Lotion is perfect for a hand massage! Create a relaxing mood using candles, flowers, and soft music.

2. Beautify your bathroom counter or vanity table. You can clean up the bottles and jars. Add some sea shells,pretty pebbles,colored glass bottles, baskets, and maybe a new potted plant. For Valentine's Day, you might want to add flowers, photos of your loved ones together, hearts, etc.

3. Go through your clothes with the eyes of one who is beautiful. Pull out anything that doesn't fit this image of you, or that you just don't like anymore. Donate these items so  someone else can wear them. Buy yourself something new. Even if it's only a pair of earrings.

4. A girls' night out or in. How about a night with your friends, giving each other facials? Just think about the pleasure you get from getting your face gently massaged as part of a facial. Save yourself some money and try this at home.

Have your friend sit in a chair or lie on a couch. Use a pillow wrapped in a towel to support their neck. Keep a basin with warm water nearby for rinsing and another one with a pot of boiling or very hot water ready for steaming. Start with Gathered’s Facial Oil or “Love My Face” cleanser to remove surface dirt or makeup. Gently apply to the face with your hands then wipe off with a soft cloth dipped in the warm water.

Next apply a gentle exfoliating scrub like Gathered’s Facial Cleansing Grains. Then wipe off. After exfoliation, fill a basin/bowl with boiling water and add Gathered’s Facial Steam. (a blend of rose petals, chamomile, calendula and lavender buds.)Have them sit up, then place a towel over their head and have them lean over the basin for 3-5 minutes to let the steam penetrate and open pores. For extra pampering Gathered’s Clay Mask may be used instead of the steam.

Follow this with a splash of cool water. Finish with a gentle moisturizer like our Facial Moisturizer or for extra pampering try one of our Facial Serums. You will massage this into the face and neck. Use circular motions and apply gentle pressure.

Make certain there is time in your week for you. Do whatever revives you, whether it's a walk in the snow, a nap, meditation, writing in your journal, or just sitting and enjoy some quiet.  Loving yourself is more than just a need, it's a necessity. Doing nice things for yourself is a way that you can feel love of self. The nurturing that your spirit will receive will be a gift to everyone around you. Learn to be your own best friend!

(Have you ever given yourself a valentine?)