For the Girls, Always — A Galentine's Reflection

Tajae` Monique
1 day ago
3 min read

Galentine’s Day! It’s the one day that reminds us love isn’t only romantic, and celebration doesn’t have to wait for someone to choose you. It’s about choosing each other. Choosing yourself. Choosing softness in a world that asks women to be strong, productive, and composed at all times. Galentine’s is permission to be pink. To be tender. To be seen. To rest. It’s a reminder that sisterhood isn’t defined by a table full of people, but by the love we carry, the women who shaped us, and the way we continue to show up.

I’ll be honest ... prior to now, Valentine’s Day rarely felt magical for me when it came to men. And that’s where the shift happened. Because what woman doesn’t want a beautiful Valentine’s Day? I’ve never been someone to shy away from what I desire just because someone’s son wasn’t providing it for me. But more than that, I never wanted the women around me to feel less than because a man wasn’t showing up for them either. Romantic love is beautiful, and I wish it for everyone, but it’s not the only form of love. I’m a girl’s girl at my core. I love making people feel seen, celebrated, and adored. Galentine’s gives me permission to do that loudly.

I think about the first time I saw that kind of love land. Years ago, my niece was in grammar school and had a Valentine’s Day celebration that parents could attend. My sister and I went all out: balloons, a bear, the whole nine. My niece probably didn’t understand the meaning of any of it at the time, but she lit up. And in that moment, I wished for a life where she always knew love existed not only in men, but in womanhood and most importantly, within herself.

When I moved into my apartment a few years ago, I knew I wanted to host. And if you know me, you know I don’t do anything halfway. I needed a reason. A theme. A moment. Galentine’s Day felt like the most me excuse to create something beautiful. Gifting has always been one of the ways I express love, and hosting became an extension of that … creating spaces where women could breathe, talk, laugh, and soften.

Some of the best versions of myself come alive during the love month. Not just because I’m hosting or giving, but because of what those moments reflect back to me and the women who enter my space: safety, creativity, kindness, encouragement, vulnerability, and joy. Every year, one conversation would turn into something deeper — one moment into connection — and I’d come to love them in a new way.

This year, though, my Galentine's is small. It’s just me.

As much as I wanted to clear the shelves and host again, I had to honor myself differently. Rest felt like the offering this year. No guest list. No coordinating. No last-minute HomeGoods runs. Just me, my space, my matcha, and a deeper sense of self. And that’s okay. Galentine’s still lives here. Just quieter, softer, and more intentional. A season to regroup, refocus on my fitness goals, and indulge in the kind of self-care I usually pour into others.

And while I’m not hosting, I couldn’t resist sharing the things I’ve loved gifting over the years — All from Amazon, little reminders that love is meant to be felt, held, and taken home with you.

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My Favorite Galentine’s Gift Bag Staples: