When it comes to special days, people usually fall into a few different groups.
Some love them and look forward to them with excitement.
Some believe they are nothing more than creations of a capitalist system.
And some simply do not care at all.
In reality, the first two groups have more in common than we think. Those who claim not to care but still hope to be remembered, and those who celebrate wholeheartedly, touch the same human need: to be seen and to connect.
The origins of Valentine’s Day go back to Roman times and St. Valentine. According to legend, Valentine secretly married young couples when marriage was forbidden and was punished for it. The foundation of this day was not commerce but the visibility of love and connection.
International Women’s Day, on the other hand, was born in the early 1900s as a symbol of resistance by women workers demanding better working conditions and equal rights. At its core lies the need to be visible and valued.
Today, these days are often marked with gifts, flowers, and messages. They have become moments when people expect to be remembered or told something special.
But have you ever considered that these days—and in fact, every day—are really about being seen, remembering and being remembered, and staying connected with ourselves and with others?
Research shows that loneliness can be as harmful to health as smoking around 15 cigarettes a day. A lack of social connection directly affects many areas of health, from heart disease and depression to immune function and sleep quality.
So the issue is not flowers or gifts.
The issue is connection.
When a person feels seen, shoulders soften, breathing deepens, and the nervous system begins to calm. Cortisol decreases, and oxytocin increases. The body moves into a state of safety. Connection is not a romantic luxury; it is a biological need.
Health, in its truest sense, is not merely the absence of illness. The World Health Organization describes health as a state of well-being in which a person can adapt to life, realize their abilities, cope with everyday challenges, and use their creativity productively while contributing to their community.
In other words, health is not a fixed state; it is a dynamic balance. It is our ability to reconnect, adapt, create, and continue growing. And meaningful connection—both with ourselves and with others—is at the heart of this balance.
Perhaps you have noticed the sudden softness and quiet happiness that appears on someone’s face when they realize they are remembered. That gentle shift is not only emotional; the body and the spirit soften too.
So why not offer this gift to ourselves, even with a small step?
Health and happiness first flow from within and then reflect outward. We are the source that needs to be discovered and illuminated. The rest unfolds naturally, like a bud slowly opening into a flower.
Please remember: we are all like flowers. We each have different colors and different scents. Some of us need more sun; others, more water. With all our differences, we are beautiful and truly one of a kind.
Take a moment now to look within and recognize what you truly need.
Let the next special day be an opportunity to let that part of you shine.
What follows may be more powerful than you expect.
Will celebrating a special day change everything?
Perhaps not entirely. But it can be a beginning. A reminder. A moment to shift direction.
Rather than seeing special days as something to expect from others, we can turn them into moments to reconnect with ourselves. Instead of automatic celebrations, we can ask what we truly need and shape the day around that awareness. Celebrating or not celebrating is not the issue. What matters is what the day reminds us of.
We can see these days as invitations to slow down, pause, and reconnect with ourselves. Small opportunities to reflect on who we are, our relationships, and our connection with life. Perhaps the most meaningful celebration is simply recognizing what we need and allowing space for it, both for ourselves and for others.
If there is a trip you have been postponing for a long time, book the ticket.
If there is a health check or a consultation you have been meaning to schedule, offer it to yourself as a gift.
If there is something you keep delaying, do it for yourself. Big or small does not matter; the first step is precious.
These steps may not transform life overnight. Yet when we reconnect with ourselves, something shifts internally. Our energy, perspective and body begin to align with that shift.
When we learn to connect with ourselves first, we no longer need to wait for special days to create moments of celebration within daily life. This brings balance to our life energy.
Then special days stop being obligations and become small bonuses within life.
You may celebrate them or simply see them as gentle reminders.
The choice is yours.
Happy YOU day
