Holistic Valentine’s Day – A look at the meaning of Valentine’s Day while considering the whole body and healthy swaps.
To approach Valentine’s Day holistically, we look at the whole person. A whole-body perspective includes the mind (our thoughts), the body (physical health), and the heart and nervous system (emotions). While we’ll begin by exploring the mind, it’s important to remember that these elements are deeply interconnected—mind, body, and spirit continuously influence one another and cannot be fully separated.
Valentines day legend
The history of Valentine’s Day is difficult to pin down; therefore, we will look to legend and attempt to glean what truth we can, beginning with an exploration meant to inform the mind.
Although there were several Christian martyrs named Valentine, the day may take its name from a priest who was martyred around 270 CE by Emperor Claudius II Gothicus. According to legend, the priest signed a letter “from your Valentine” to his jailer’s daughter, whom he had befriended and, by some accounts, healed of blindness. Other accounts suggest it was St. Valentine of Terni, a bishop, for whom the holiday was named—though it is possible the two saints were, in fact, the same person. Another common legend holds that St. Valentine defied the emperor’s orders by secretly marrying couples to spare husbands from being sent to war. For this reason, his feast day became associated with love. (1)
What is love?
To be able to see love for what it really is, we must first define it and consider what it looks like.
True love seeks the good of another, though love may bring mushy scenes and happy emotions to mind, it isn’t all that. It is something better; it is something bigger than yourself. What a gift! Love is costly. True love is defined by giving without expecting in return; a truly selfless love will even seek the good of those you don’t like. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, says: “4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” (2) This passage in the Bible illustrates just how costly love is and what true love looks like.
Easy ways to demonstrate love
Demonstrating love will require your body and mind and can involve the emotions, thus the heart.
5 ways to demonstrate love:
1. Spending time together – especially time spent giving your undivided attention to another person.
2. Doing something helpful for another – this could be washing the dishes, opening the door, picking up the groceries, etc.
3. Physical touch – a hug, a handshake, a kiss, etc.
4. Words of affirmation – a kind word offering thanks for all that they do, saying something you admire about them, recognizing a character trait and affirming its goodness.
5. Giving a gift – creating or purchasing something that you know they would like and surprising them with the gift.
If you would like to dig deeper into any of these styles of giving and receiving love, Gary Chapman has many books that speak further on this specific topic.
If you consider how each one of the above ways of demonstrating love can be costly, whether it be the time required, the self-control required, the finances required, the effort required, the focus on the need of another, or the thought required, you can see how it is all a way to seek the good of another person.
It may seem impossible to do all 5 ways of demonstrating love every day, so consider how you might offer a smile first, say hi, and offer a compliment. These gestures of kindness are a way to consider another person, and if done without requiring anything back, then it can be classified as an act of love.
Physical body
The physical body needs consideration when consuming foods, liquids, habits, exercise, and tasks. If you push your body too far it will require too much effort to recover and thus drain you further, but your body isn’t designed to be totally unstressed either.
An easy way to evaluate if your body is being adequately supported is by considering your fluid intake, ensuring you are getting macro nutrients, especially adequate fat, protein, and carbohydrates.
Another general standard to evaluate your diet is by the newly released food pyramid. Its focus is on eating real food, protein-focused, and less processed foods. This recommendation offers a more nutrient-dense diet, including necessary micronutrients and supporting optimal health.
It’s all connected
If your nutrients aren’t optimal, then you may find yourself depressed, you might find your thoughts running wild, you may be sleep deprived, and the list could go on. What you do to care for your body will also impact your nervous system and, in turn, your thoughts, since your thoughts are influenced by your emotions/heart. The cyclical nature of what the head/mind thinks impacts what the heart believes, and what you believe leads to what your hands do; as your hands do, you will learn, and your mind will begin to learn, thus starting the cycle all over again.
Holistic Swaps for Valentine’s Day
Chocolate is a great go-to gift for Valentine’s Day, but let’s make it healthy.
Sted food has a huge variety of chocolate that is made in Minnesota, in small batches, fair trade, and thoughtfully created. You can find Sted Chocolate Bars in our store, The Dande, in Hayfield, Minnesota. If you need an idea to elevate your chocolate treat, try this recipe for S’Mores cookies.
https://stedfoods.com/blogs/chocolate-makers-notes/recipe-air-fried-smores-cookies-with-sted-foods-almond-maple-brittle-chocolate-bar
Candles can help set the mood, and rather than release toxins into the air, beeswax candles may actually purify the air.
Slow Burn Twisted Taper candles (pair) are made with 100% Pure Minnesotan Beeswax and Organic Cotton Wicking. Handmade by Slow Burn, these beeswax candles invite you to pause, take a break, and enjoy the slow clean burn of your candle. You can find these at:
https://dandelionnaturals.com/product/twisted-taper-beeswax-candle/
Lotion is another classic gift for Valentine’s Day, but let’s make it chemical-free. They do not contain water or preservatives and are 100% natural, seriously! Dandelion Naturals lotion bars are made with nourishing ingredients such as tallow, beeswax, and essential oils. You can find a 4-pack bundle of our lotion bars on our website at: https://dandelionnaturals.com/product/4-pack-lotion-bar-bundle-you-pick/
This is a great way to try multiple scents!
Perfumes are full of artificial scents. We have found a great natural swap for you. They are created by a small business that uses pure oils, botanical extracts, and essential oils. You can find these natural scents in our store, The Dande, in Hayfield, Minnesota.
What about the man in your life?
We couldn’t recommend more highly our Deluxe Men’s Shave Kit, it includes:
A Straight Edge Razor, a Shave Brush, a Tallow Shave Soap, a Tallow Balm, and a Bamboo Beard Brush. Whether you’re a seasoned shaving enthusiast or new to traditional grooming, this comprehensive kit provides everything you need for a perfect shave, every time. You can find our Deluxe Men’s Shave Kit at https://dandelionnaturals.com/product/deluxe-mens-shave-kit/
Our Lip Balm is a great gift for men, women, and children. Our ingredients are picked for their moisturizing, healing, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties leaving your lips moisturized and healthy all day long. And we add a touch of honey so our balm naturally tastes good. You can find our lip balm at: https://dandelionnaturals.com/product-category/lip-balms/
Tea instead of wine. Ok, hear me out, wine making is an art, but so is tea making. Just like wine, tea offers a huge variety of flavors while also offering supportive properties and nutrients. We have 6 herbal teas available online and over 30 available in our store, the Dande, in Hayfield, Minnesota. To find herbal teas online, go to: https://dandelionnaturals.com/product-category/dandelion-market/loose-leaf-tea/
Conclusion
Share some of your favorite products with those you love, share the legend of Valentine’s Day, and offer true love to those in your life. We can’t wait to help you share holistic swaps with others.
Resources:
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Valentines-Day (1)
The ESV Study Bible: English Standard Version. Crossway Bibles, 2008. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. (2)
