No One Sent Me Flowers

What Valentine’s Day Taught Me About Worthiness

One year in my early twenties, Valentine’s Day felt like torture.

There was no special person in my life, and I quietly translated that into one painful conclusion: I must not be worthy.

At work, I watched co-workers proudly place freshly delivered flowers on their desks. Mine stayed bare. I smiled and commented on how beautiful the bouquets were, breathing in their fragrance as if I were part of the celebration.

But inside, something was sinking.

Depression found its opening as I began focusing on everything that felt absent in my life. The next day, a Saturday, I stayed in bed the entire day feeling sorry for myself. (It’s wild how vividly I still remember that.)

That low point became a turning point.

With the help of a wise counselor, I began to see that I had collapsed self-love into egotism, narcissism, and being “too big for my britches.” Loving myself felt dangerous. Arrogant. Wrong.

The truth?

I was afraid to love me.

My journey toward self-love did not begin with affirmations in a mirror. It began with being gently taught that I am lovable. That worthiness is not earned through flowers on a desk. That I could become my own steady companion.

It took time. Intention. Practice.

Today, I live an intentional life that includes being my own best friend. Self-love is not indulgence. It is foundational. After all, how can we experience happiness while living in constant relationship with ourselves if that relationship is harsh, dismissive, or neglectful?

Questions to Ponder

• How do you speak to yourself?

• How do you treat yourself?

• How do you allow others to treat you?

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A Valentine’s Challenge

What would it look like to shower yourself with extra love this month?

If you’re not sure where to start, try this:

Make a list of 100 good things about yourself.

Yes. One hundred.

If you feel resistance, notice it—and begin anyway. That resistance is often the doorway.

Take it one step further and share your list with someone you trust. Let yourself be witnessed.

And if you can’t think of a single thing?

Reach out. I’ll help you get the list started. We’ll build momentum together.

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With love,Beverly

© 2026 Beverly Keaton. All rights reserved.

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