by Paula O’Kray
Valentine’s Day is just a few days away, and if you’re like me, you don’t have anyone to celebrate it with this time around. Or perhaps I should say, “Yet another year.”
Now, instead of seeing that as a negative thing, I was thinking … why not celebrate myself instead? I don’t mean to celebrate by myself. I mean actually celebrating me!
After all, I know exactly what I like. I know exactly what color I want. I know what scent, what flavor, and the size. And I know exactly where to find it. I can’t possibly do it wrong!
I know exactly how I want to be treated and I know exactly how I want to feel. I’m an expert in me!
Let’s see. Perhaps I’ll start by just lounging in bed a few more minutes. (Or perhaps an hour.) Maybe I won’t even look at the phone or a clock. I’ll just get up whenever I feel like it. Or until the dog makes it very obvious he’s missing his breakfast by staring at me silently while madly wagging his tail.
Oh, I could treat myself to breakfast! Not by cooking it, mind you. I have few cooking skills, which might be why I’m celebrating this day the way I am — alone. But there are lots of great places to enjoy a delicious breakfast near my home. I just need to get dressed, fix my hair, and put a dab of makeup on so that I don’t scare small children.
My typical breakfast go-to is usually an omelette, but lately I’ve had a sweet tooth, so it might be French toast or pancakes with fresh fruit. I will eat at a leisurely pace, enjoying the company around me and the ambiance of the restaurant over a steaming hot cup of black coffee.
You know what would really be lovely? A massage! If you’ve never had one, you are really missing out. Don’t believe what you’ve heard. This isn’t Los Angeles, it’s central Wisconsin. The massage therapist does whatever you want in the way that you want. Use your words. Feel fantastic!
Don’t plan to go shopping afterwards. Your face will look a little odd from laying in the padded toilet bowl-shaped headrest. Or is it a facerest? Whatever.
Let’s head back home and grab the dog. It’s time for a nice long walk in the woods! Remember, there’s no bad weather, just inappropriate clothing. Get all your gear on while the dog stares silently at you while madly wagging his tail. “No. Really. Take your time, Paula! God, I love her.”
A winter hike is always a treat for the senses. The crispness of the air carrying the slight scent of burning firewood always brings back a lot of happy memories. The joyful crunch of snow and leaves underfoot and the snow-kissed beauty of the trees. If you’re dressed well enough, you can go for a long, long walk, and come home with a very tired, dirty, and thus happy, dog.
How about some music? That’d be nice. I have more than 40 playlists saved on Spotify and, depending my mood, I’ll choose a genre with my favorite tunes and dance all over the living room. And you probably already guessed this one — I accompany myself with any number of handheld percussion instruments and occasionally a kazoo. They’re not just for the car!
Another great thing about living alone is you can crank the volume and make a total fool of yourself. The dog never criticizes but silently stares with an amused expression on his muzzle. I’ve been trying to teach him how to dance, but it’s been slow going, because he has … wait for it … two left feet!
After dancing, probably a bowlful of my favorite ice cream and a nap would be nice. I’ll snuggle up with my favorite blankets on the couch, with me at one end and Mr. T on the other. I know he’ll wake me up in time for supper, since he’s basically the butler around here and keeps everything on schedule.
Ever wake up from a nap with a dog staring silently at you while madly wagging his tail? I can tell you, you know what you’ll see before you even open your eyes.
After eating too much of something warm, cheesy, and delicious for supper, I might take a long, hot shower to relax. I’ll put my hair up in a wrap and slip into my big fuzzy Oodie (basically a very thick, oversized hooded blanket with pockets and arms that feel like a giant hug), relax with a mug of hot tea, and watch one of my favorite movies.
Will it be Amelie? Dogma? Maybe Chocolat? Oh, I know! The Full Monty!
And there you have it. I just spent the day without worrying about a schedule, a looming appointment, or being on time. I spent the day without rethinking that last conversation, email, or who I ticked off last week (get in line, dude). I didn’t doom scroll on social media or think about how I’m going to pay that bill next week. I let it all go for one joyful, luxurious day.
Thank you, me! I had a really great time.
Oh no. The dog is silently staring at me while madly wagging his tail again. What did I forget??
Relaxing on the couch in my Oodie. Go on, Google it! You know you want one.