While everyone was busy buying candy and flowers for Valentine's Day, I was ready for a small weekend gateway with my family to Sedona, Arizona. The Sedona location has been on my bucket list since I was a teenage girl, but I never really knew when I would get the opportunity to visit. Until most recently in the month of February, I decided I needed to plan more time off work in 2026.

 I realized now that I am one year wiser and a single mother. I can't buy back time, so I needed to value the 100 hours of saved PTO that I have and be okay with taking time of work to prevent burn out, center my nervous system, distress, and spend quality time with my son. Balancing life is not easy, but like anyone else I deserve much needed time off to be present in life. 

So, I packed our bags and headed to Sedona, Arizona. Sedona offers a unique blend of natural red rock formations trails that are endless possibilities for hiking explorations. I wanted to go off the rail and wander deeper, but I had to keep smaller trails in mind for my little one and my senior parents, so I look forward to returning someday to explore the forest, rivers, and canyons on a deeper level. 

Benefits of Sedona during February:

• Desert Environment
• Sunshine and Enjoyable weather 
• Escape from City Life 
• Privacy and Peace
• Fresh Air and Natural Rock Energy 

 In the month of February, there is no greater feeling than sharing love, but keep in mind there are many people who recently ended a situationship, relationship, or marriage. For this exact reason, SELF LOVE is an important chapter to pause and think about all the ways we can show up for ourselves. 

So, what is Self-Love?  

Well for starters, Self-love can have many different meanings to individuals, but some may define it as a deep psychological concept of self-worth.  I believe the true intention behind self-love revolves around self-compassion.  Where one truly shows up for themselves when no one else is around and discovers supporting their own needs and wants while honoring their limitations. It's also about exploring emotions in different areas of life to create awareness and find different coping mechanism activities. 

Below are a couple tips to practice Self-Love:

1. Daily Gratitude: Appreciate what you already have. Despite the bad things that might be happening, gratitude can shift your focus by minimizing negative thoughts. 

2. Let go of toxic people:  if you have family, friends or peers who are constantly negative and bringing you down it's okay to set limitations and create healthy boundaries, so you can focus on quality energy exchange. 

3. Forgive yourself for wanting to please everyone:  It's not your responsibility, instead focus on filling that self-love energy to replenish your needs and wants.  

4. Manage Stress: treat yourself with kindness and understanding. Trying to meet everyone's expectations at work, home and family can feel overwhelming. Take a step to slow things down and do mini coping exercises to help you get through the day. 

5. Embrace your strengths:  We all have strengths tied to hidden talents such as creators, artist, cooking, and more. Identify what is your hidden talent as it will improve your confidence. 

Remember Self Love is always about being compassionate to yourself in life, health, and relationships. Don't know where to start, below is a self-paced workbook that can help start that journey. 

Resources:

The Self-Love Workbook: A Life-Changing Guide to Boost Self-Esteem, Recognize Your Worth and Find Genuine