From the Editor…Karen Giblin

By: Red Hot Mamas

Published: February 14, 2024

“Love is the greatest refreshment in life”.

– Pablo Picasso

Dear Red Hot Mamas,

For those of us who live in the north, I am one of them who lives in NJ, it’s great that the month of February is almost finally coming to an end. All those short days and gray weather have taken a toll on many of us. After all, I have had enough of waking up in the morning when it’s still dark outside. Adding to this, many of us are missing our daily dose of Vitamin D from the sun which certainly may contribute to depression.

I am one of those Yankees that live north of the Mason-Dixie line. And I personally love Punxsutawney Phil, and this year he lovingly predicted that we would not have another six weeks of winter. So, winter is soon about to be over, and a warmer Spring shall soon be on the horizon. I certainly am looking forward to that! And I must confess that my overall happiness really relies on this rodent!

On a positive note, we celebrate Valentine’s Day this month. And there’s more than romantic love to celebrate on this special day. In my opinion, it is not just about celebrating the day with someone special. And, when this day arrives on February 14th and if you find yourself solo, why not try to nurture your relationship with yourself. How do you do this? It is with self-love and self-care.

Self-care is what drives our self-love. To do this we need to take care of ourselves by understanding what our needs are. This can be done by making healthy choices which will be reflected in our physical and emotional being. I encourage you to take time for yourself. Do something you enjoy, whatever it is, that brings you joy even when no one else is around.

Also, why not try positive self-talk. Simple affirmations sometimes help us to feel better about ourselves. Here are some positive affirmations:

  1. I am doing the best I can.
  2. I choose to be happy.
  3. I believe in myself.
  4. I accept myself.
  5. I love myself.
  6. I trust myself.
  7. I am different and unique and that is okay.
  8. I let go of control and focus on joy.
  9. I let go of all negative emotions, especially fear.
  10. I look forward to a happy bright future.

In closing, prioritize your self-care this Valentine’s Day. Self-care should not be limited to getting a massage, it means staying in touch with your needs and taking steps to meet them. You deserve as much of your attention and even more than all your other responsibilities. So, this February, the month of love, take some time out for yourself. Just remember that you are your first love, so you must take care of yourself.                                                     I

I wish you all a very Happy Valentine’s Day!

Good Health to You All,

Karen Giblin