This Valentine’s Day, Let Your Life Reflect What You Love

Valentine’s Day puts love in the spotlight. We think about the people who matter, we send the message, we make the call, we remember not to take each other for granted. But while love is getting all this attention, here’s a question that deserves a little of it too:

What do you love in your everyday life — and why aren’t you doing more of it?

Not what sounds impressive. Not what’s productive. Not what you think you should enjoy. What you actually love. Because here’s the thing: most of us already know. We just don’t treat that information as important.

You love sitting in the sun with a cup of coffee when the house is quiet. You love long walks where no one talks to you or asks where something is. You love laughing with that one friend who makes everything funnier. You love reading, gardening, music, slow mornings, learning random things that have absolutely no practical use — and somehow that makes them even better.

You know you love these things because you feel different when you do them. Lighter. Calmer. More like yourself and less like a human to-do list. That feeling isn’t silly. It’s good information about what lights you up.

The real question isn’t, “What do I love?” It’s, “Why am I not doing more of it?”

Usually, the answers sound very responsible. “I don’t have time.” “I should be doing something more useful.” “I’ll do that later.” Later, by the way, is a magical land where we all apparently have endless free time and boundless energy. I’m still waiting for my ticket.

But what if the something that makes you feel more like yourself, is not extra. It’s not a reward. It’s not something you have to earn by finishing everything else — especially because everything else is never finished. Ever.

Love isn’t just a feeling. It’s a direction. When you love something — being outside, deep conversation, quiet time, creativity, learning — that’s your mind and body saying, More of this feels good. That’s guidance. And you’re allowed to follow it without filing a formal explanation.

If you love walking, walk. If you love reading, read. If you love talking with that friend, call her. If you love mornings, protect them like they are prime real estate — because they are. If you love learning, sign up for the thing, listen to the podcast, read the book. You don’t need a productivity report. You don’t need to prove it’s useful. You just need to do more of what you love and a little less of what you do on autopilot.

What usually gets in the way isn’t reality — it’s habit. We get used to organizing our days around what needs to be done, what’s expected, what we’ve always done. The things we love get treated like a bonus if there’s time left over. What if they weren’t the bonus? What if they were part of how your life is supposed to feel?

Valentine’s Day reminds us to express love outward. Let it also be a nudge to aim your life toward what you love inward. Not with a dramatic reinvention. Just with small, steady choices that say, This matters to me. Because love isn’t only something you give.It’s also something you build into your days. And you are absolutely allowed to do that.