Happy Galentine's Day

Photo credit: juniorreis@unsplash

Usually, I am a bit skeptical about new holidays cropping up that have the potential to be driven by commercialism. However, I get behind Galentine’s Day. Why not have a day dedicated to hanging out with our sisterfriends and sharing how much we love and appreciate each other (even if we can only connect virtually this year).

If you are unfamiliar with Galentine’s Day, no worries. I got you. This unofficial holiday, which is gaining popularity, is observed on February 13th (the day before, you know, the other love holiday). It is a day to show our gurlz some love. Interestingly, the holiday was created by a fictional character: Leslie Knope of Parks and Recreation (also known as Parks and Rec). The second season of Parks and Rec in 2010 included an episode called “Galentine’s Day,” in which Leslie gathers a group of her closest “gal” friends the day before Valentine’s Day for a brunch where she showers them with gifts and expressions of her affection – a love fest.

In the spirit of Galentine’s Day, here are inspiring pearls of wisdom from sisters who elevate us.

Practice Self-Care and Self-Love

You must love and care for yourself because that is when the best comes out.

— Tina Turner

“Don’t wait around for other people to be happy for you. Any happiness you get, you’ve got to make yourself.”

— Alice Walker

“I am a feminist, and what that means to me is much the same as the meaning of the fact that I am Black; it means that I must undertake to love myself and to respect myself as though my very life depends upon self-love and self-respect.”

— June Jordan

Define Yourself for Yourself

“Self-esteem comes from being able to define the world in your own terms and refusing to abide by the judgment of others.”

— Oprah Winfrey

"Do not live someone else's life and someone else's idea of what womanhood is. Womanhood is you. Womanhood is everything that's inside of you."

— Viola Davis

Wear Your Crown

“Deal with yourself as an individual worthy of respect, and make everyone else deal with you the same way.”

— Nikki Giovanni

“You are your best thing.”

— Toni Morrison

Own Your Power

“When the tell you that you are angry or nasty, you tell them they are mistaken. This is me. This is me being resolute and standing firm in my truth.”

— Angela Bassett

"You can't be hesitant about who you are."

— Viola Davis

"Look what you've already come through! Don't deny it. You've already come through some things, which are very painful. If you've been alive until you’re 35, you have gone through some pain. It cost you something. And you've come through it. So at least look at that. And have a sense to look at yourself and say, Well, wait a minute. I'm stronger than I thought I was."

— Maya Angelou

Shut Down the Haters…Periodt!

The moment anyone tries to demean or degrade you in any way, you have to know how great you are. Nobody would bother to beat you down if you were not a threat.

— Cicely Tyson

You don’t have to say anything to the haters. You don’t have to acknowledge them at all. You just wake up every morning and be the best you you can be, and that tends to shut them up.

— Michelle Obama

“When you love and accept yourself, when you know who really cares about you, and when you learn from your mistakes, then you stop caring about what people who don’t know you think.”

— Beyonce

And finally, you may have seen the video below as it went viral this year; I'm sharing it today because the messages never get old.

Happy Galentines Day!