When Holidays Serve as Reminders

Holidays serve a variety of purposes. Just one of these is to offer us reminders.

Thanksgiving reminds us to be grateful. If you celebrate Easter and Christmas, then the seasons of Lent and Advent offer a time of preparation. New Years Day serves as a fresh start to let us know, it’s never too late.

And so it is with Valentine’s Day. A day to remind us of love and connection.

Ah, yes, a reminder of love and connection.

Certainly, that includes romantic love.

But our focus can go well beyond our love for our romantic partners.

This week, I want to share thoughts around love for self and the relationship between loving oneself and setting boundaries.

It seems that when boundaries are the topic, the typical focal point is setting them with others.

Does anyone ever ask, “What about setting boundaries with yourself?”

But consider that loving oneself isn’t only about setting boundaries with others. It includes setting them with yourself as well.

What do I mean?

Think about time, schedules, and calendaring tasks and projects for example.

Do you schedule your days in a way that you are productive? Or do you allow yourself too many unnecessary distractions?

Are you realistic about how long a task will take? Or do you under- or over-estimate the amount of time something will take and berate yourself when you don’t work within that timeframe?

With that in mind, reflect on the things in life that hold importance for you. Other examples might be: business/career, food, exercise, faith, family, or voluntary activities.

Are the boundaries you set for yourself healthy? Do they help you achieve what you desire for your life? Are you doing too much? Or, maybe not enough?

Choose this week to look at the ways you are – or are not – boldly loving yourself through the boundaries you live by.

Is it time to change a few?