Love Yourself First with Victoria’s Secret

The other night, I sat in a lonely corner on the late night Q train in Brooklyn. In a much too vulnerable state of mind, I started thinking, and it was exhausting. Simply put, I was tired. Tired of constantly being placed second. Tired of not being on the same page. Tired of being taken for granted. Tired of being let down. Tired of it being again and again and again and again. But mainly, just tired of feeling this way.

We can’t rewind, but I’d like to think we can reset and embark on the journey to find true happiness without constantly compelled to compromise core values. No one should hold the power that makes you hate yourself, or make you feel constricted and secondary. Find someone who wants the same lifestyle that you do and not only wants but also pushes without abandon to chase the same dreams as you. Their eyes should light up when yours do; their hearts should race along with yours. And the way they look at you – oh, it should be an indescribable force, full of love, appreciation and wonderment, even with the knowledge of all of your flaws and madness. Find someone who knows you’re worth every damn hurricane, every bit of madness and every sliver of sunshine and will fight through jungles and wildfires to prove it. But before all that, find the power within to love yourself first, to put yourself first.

This Valentine’s Day, whether you’re single, in a relationship, or in a complicated and muddled situation, celebrate YOU. Don’t wait for someone to buy you flowers. You’re a strong, independent force, so buy them yourself… for you. Treat yourself… for you. Dress yourself… for you. I personally have a soft spot for pretty undergarments, and a long time ago, I made a pact with myself that I’d indulge in that purely for myself. That is where I turn to Victoria’s Secret, my exclusive lingerie destination. Although it’s a daily sartorial habit, I’m dolling up on the inside this Valentine’s Day with pieces from Victoria’s Secret’s newest collection – Dream Angels ‘Wicked’ –  as a reminder to love myself in spite of my flaws, especially since I’m someone who has struggled with body image.

Oh, and by the way, this is not a sponsored post for Victoria’s Secret. I’m just that loyal of a customer. Also, USPS recently dropped the ball in a major way with my online order – losing my package, replying back to my inquiry with a dismissive response, and then ignoring me altogether – and Victoria’s Secret stepped up to the plate to investigate..and replaced everything in my order. In the marketing world, we’re always talking about how a company can differentiate itself from its competitors, and customer service goes a long way. So thank you, Victoria’s Secret. This Valentine’s Day, I raise my glass to you (and to myself too!).