The Day of Inner Blooming
Valentine’s Day is supposed to be about love and affection, but somewhere along the way it turned into a performance.
A day where we’re expected to feel a certain way, show up a certain way, and prove something about our relationships, all on command.
And life doesn’t match the script (or the social media posts we are secretly comparing ourselves to), the day can feel less like a celebration and more like a spotlight on what’s missing.
If you’re not in a romantic relationship, you’re made to feel like you’re alone.
If you’re partnered, you’re pressured by it.
If you’re somewhere in between, you’re probably wondering why we’re all pretending this day means the same thing for everyone.
Even the “Galentine’s Day” trend…cute, as it is (but is it really), can feel like another version of the same performance. A way to make the day mean something because the calendar says it should.
But here’s the truth:
Love doesn’t need a holiday.
Love needs presence.
Love needs honesty.
Love needs daily tending.
This year, I’m saying deuces to the performance.
Now, I am not saying self-love should be reserved for one day.
BUT, if we’re going to have a holiday about it, let’s take advantage.
A Different Kind of Love Ritual
Instead of waiting for someone else to make you feel chosen, adored, or seen, what if you used this day to practice the kind of love you’ve been craving?
Not the grand gesture.
Not the roses or the dinner reservation. (Hubs if you’re reading this, this is your permission to not get me flowers. And no, this isn’t a test).
Not the curated Instagram moment.
But the quiet, steady devotion of turning inward. With that, I offer a gentle ritual:
1. Pause and check in with your body
Place a hand on your chest or belly.
Notice what’s here without trying to fix it.
2. Ask yourself:
“What part of me is asking for love today?”
Let the answer come from sensation, not logic.
3. Write for five minutes
Let your pen move without editing.
Let the truth be messy, tender, or surprising.
4. Invite your future self in
Ask:
“How does my future self show me love in small, daily ways?”
Write what comes through.
5. Close with a gesture of devotion
A breath.
A hand over your heart.
A whispered “I’m here.”
💗 A New Way to Think About Love
Valentine’s Day is not a performance.
It is not a measurement.
And it doesn’t have to be a reminder of what you don’t have.
A day where you choose yourself, not because you’re supposed to, but because you’re allowed to.
Love doesn’t need a holiday.
But if we’re going to have one, let’s make it a day that brings us back to ourselves, not further away.
About Mallory
Mallory Tedrick is a licensed therapist who works with individuals navigating trauma, nervous system overwhelm, and the quiet places where people feel disconnected from themselves. Her work centers on helping clients move out of survival mode and into embodied presence, self-trust, and integration. Through therapy, writing, and reflection, Mallory offers a space where healing is not rushed or performed, but gently experienced and lived.
If this resonated…
You don’t need to do anything with it right now. You’re welcome to sit with what stirred, return to this reflection, or explore other Notes from Within when it feels supportive. Healing doesn’t ask for urgency. It asks for presence.