Welcome to Love Day, otherwise known as Valentine’s Day.

Today is an opportunity to shower yourself in love and compassion and to send messages of love to those who need them the most.

I was doing some journaling earlier, as I do most mornings, asking for help to show myself kindness and gentleness today (not always easy) and the word grace came to me.

Give yourself grace today, I wrote.

What a beautiful word – grace. What a beautiful concept. 

To me, it feels like being wrapped in a warm, snuggly, safe blanket, with the permission to rest for as long as I need (which is something I find very hard to do).

This is apt for me today, and perhaps for you.

I’ve been giving myself a hard time lately, for some ‘mistakes’ I believe I’ve made, for some ‘messes’ I believe I’ve created.

In short, for not being perfect all the time. For being human (how dare I be human?). 

And that’s not a kind way to be, it’s not a gentle way to be, it’s not a loving way to be.

So today, I’d like to give myself grace. And I wish the same for you.

The other thing that’s close to my heart today is a desire to reach out to people who need extra loving. 

In the past six months, two wonderful men I know have lost their wives to cancer, one of those wives being one of my oldest friends. Both men are vibrant and healthy. Both men were looking forward to many more years with their partners. Both men, I imagine, are hurting profoundly today.

Another friend has lost her health and is living with a devastating diagnosis.

And another lost her beloved dog recently after many years of loyal companionship. 

These people need extra loving today. Their hearts are hurting. How can I reach out to them and send them love?

And while I’m here, in this loving space, how can I send myself extra love? I’ve lost people too. Mum and Dad. My heart hurts. 

That’s the problem with loving, isn’t it?

It often brings loss.

But healthy loving is always worth the risk, and even unhealthy loving teaches us valuable lessons and leads us towards healthy love. 

If you are hurting today, dear Reader, I send you love.

If you are grieving, if you have experienced loss or heartbreak (haven’t we all?) or if your dreams of having a partner by your side or a different life haven’t yet materialised. 

I send you a virtual hug and a big bunch of sweet-smelling flowers.

And I send you everything you need to shower yourself in love, compassion and grace today.

I’m here for you.

In fact, I will actually be here for you today, on Zoom, at 5 pm UK time, for my Love Day Love In.

To join, you simply need to belong to my Love Letters mailing list so that I can send you the Zoom link. You can sign up to my list at http://www.katherinebaldwin.com.

Love comes in many forms but one of the most important ways we feel loved is when we feel seen and heard, understood and acknowledged.

That’s what I’m offering you today.

I see you. I hear you. And I will be live on Zoom at 5 pm to do just that.

Maybe I’ll see you there, and if not, I send you so much love.

Katherine x

PS If you’d like my support on your journey to love, read on.

Resources to help you to heal and grow

Explore 1:1 or group love, dating and relationship coaching with me via this link. I have a brand new How to Fall in Love group programme launching on Monday February 19th and I’m offering £100 off the six-months programme and £80 off the three-month programme as well as 1 or 2 group coaching calls if you sign up by the weekend. Explore the group coaching programme here.

I have a number of transformational online courses on finding love and self-love that you can take at your own pace. Use the code LOVE10 for ten percent off all self-paced courses in the month of February. You can find them here.

My first book, How to Fall Love, includes many tools to help you to connect to your feelings and overcome unhealthy patterns. It also tells the story of my personal journey of healing and finding a healthy and loving relationship.

My TEDx talk on Finding Courage, Overcoming Fear and Breaking Free is here.