Filling Your Own Cup: Loving Yourself During Divorce this Valentine’s Day

"Before you can love anyone else, you have to love yourself. Valentine’s Day is the perfect moment to start turning inward and focusing on your well-being."

• Redefine the Day: Frame Valentine’s as an opportunity to reconnect with yourself, not a day of loss.

• Practices for Self-Worth: Take small steps like setting boundaries, learning to say no, and engaging in activities that affirm your value.

• Honor All Forms of Love: Focus on nurturing the relationships you do have—whether it’s with your children, friends, or family—and let those connections remind you of your worth.

By focusing on self-love and compassion, you create a foundation for healthier relationships in the future. Let Valentine’s Day be a day of rediscovery, not regret.

In our pasts, we may remember the “lonely hearts” parties that people would throw for those who do not have a “significant’ on February 14th.  Well, I want to flip the script.  Let's talk about ways that we can celebrate ourselves, nurture the relationships and love we feel for those who are in our lives (vs. wishing we had something that we do not), and find ways to accept and appreciate where we are as we turn the page towards a new chapter in our lives.

Check out these fun-filled party ideas!  

Valentine’s Day Party Ideas for Singles or the Newly Divorced:

1. "Self-Love Soirée"

• Theme: Indulge in activities that promote self-care and empowerment.

• Activities:

  • DIY face masks and spa treatments.

  • Create a self-love vision board.

  • Share affirmations or write letters of encouragement to yourself.

• Favors: Journals, bath salts, or candles.

2. "Friends & Gratitude Gathering"

• Theme: Celebrating the friendships and connections in your life.

• Activities:

  • A gratitude jar where guests write down things they appreciate about themselves and others.

  • Fun games like trivia about your friend group.

  • A photo booth with props to capture happy memories.

• Favors: Polaroid pictures from the event or small gratitude journals.

3. "Galentine’s (or Palentine’s) Celebration"

• Theme: Focus on platonic love and camaraderie.

• Activities:

  • Potluck dinner where everyone brings a dish they love.

  • Share stories of your favorite memories together.

  • Movie night with uplifting, feel-good films.

• Favors: Personalized friendship bracelets or funny “inside joke” cards.

4. "A Night of New Beginnings"

• Theme: Embrace the next chapter of your life.

• Activities:

  • Host a mini-workshop on goal setting or manifesting the future you want.

  • Write down what you want to let go of and ceremonially discard it (e.g., burn it in a fire pit or shred it).

  • Toast to personal growth and shared aspirations.

• Favors: Small notebooks for goal tracking or intention-setting stones.

5. "Taste of Freedom Feast"

• Theme: Celebrate your independence with a culinary twist.

• Activities:

  • Cooking or baking party where everyone makes their favorite comfort food or dessert.

  • Host a wine or mocktail tasting with curated pairings.

  • End the night with karaoke or a dance party to keep the energy high.

• Favors: Mini recipe books or small bottles of olive oil, wine, or spices.

These party names and ideas focus on positivity, self-love, and the connections we already have in our lives, turning Valentine’s Day into a celebration of growth, gratitude, and joy.