Buying Myself Flowers

Every year, Valentine’s Day rolls around and suddenly it’s everywhere. Pink hearts, roses, candlelit dinners, and perfectly curated “date night” photos flooding social media. It can feel like the world collectively decides that this one day defines love, romance, and worth.

For a long time, that used to annoy me.

I was often the only single one, watching everyone else make plans, exchange gifts, or post about their partners. And honestly? Not much has changed — I’m still single. But what has changed is me.

Over the years, I’ve done a lot of work on myself. I’ve learned how to fill my own cup, how to show up for myself, and how to give the kind of love I used to think only someone else could give me. And that kind of love? It’s important, and foundational.

Somewhere along the way, I realised that it actually doesn’t matter whether you’re single or in a relationship. Love shouldn’t be confined to one day on the calendar. It should be celebrated every day — in big ways and small ones, with others and with yourself.

This reminds me of something from high school. Every Valentine’s Day, my school would sell roses. People would buy them for friends, crushes, or partners, and we’d walk around handing them out. One year, I bought roses for a few of my friends. As I went to give one to a friend, she laughed and said something like, “Do you just want to keep it? We’re basically just giving them to each other.” We both already had a rose in our hands.

At the time it seemed small, almost silly, but that moment stuck with me. It taught me something I still carry today: it’s okay — actually, it’s necessary — to give yourself love too. Buy yourself flowers. Do nice things for yourself just because. I buy flowers for myself all the time, not because it’s Valentine’s Day, but because I deserve them.

Love is beautiful in all forms — romantic, platonic, self-love — and whether you’re single or in a relationship, both are equally valid, equally special, and equally worth celebrating.

This year I spent Valentine’s Day by myself. Face mask on, candles lit, chocolate in hand, rewatching two of my favourite shows: Bridgerton and Sex Education, and a few rom coms too. Love a good rom com. I basically spent the whole day in my dressing gown. And it was perfect in its own way.

I hope you had a beautiful Valentine’s Day — whatever that looked like for you.