And so the day has come of hearts and flow’rs,

That day of chocolate, sweets and words of love;

For some, the stress of each sugary hour

Might be enough to make push come to shove;

For others, pressure on to please a partner

Might forge a cranky, frazzled kind of day—

The favor of a lover’s good to garner,

But could there be a more self-caring way?

O Dear Reader, please consider giving

Thine own self compassion, love and care!

For cared-for selves glide gently through this living;

They nourish others with deep love to share.

So change the mindset of the chocolate grind,

And this sweet day be thine own Valentine!

SELF CARE RESOURCES:

So What Is Self-Care?  Concrete tips and ideas to introduce and practice self-care into busy lives

Stress at Work    Ideas for managing work-related stress and burn-out

Nine Self-Care Essentials to Add to your Life   More thoughts and inspiration for mindfulness practices

The Science of Self-Talk  Interesting research on the power of positive self-talk