Showing Love On National “I Love You” Day

Now celebrated on October 14 each year, National “I Love You” Day came about recently and spread rapidly across social media platforms. So what exactly is National “I Love You” Day? Below, we’ll take a closer look at the history of this observance and share some ways you can celebrate it by showing love to the people in your life.  

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How did National “I Love You” Day originate? 

This holiday came about fairly recently and was popularized with the help of social media. In 2015, a film called “Every Day I Love You” was released in the Philippines, and as part of a viral marketing campaign, the hashtag #EverydayILoveYou swept the country. While the movie promoted romantic love, the public imagination was captured by the idea of sharing these three simple words with all of their loved ones, including family and friends. Alongside the original hashtag, another hashtag took hold: #NationalILoveYouDay. This second hashtag spread across 62 countries and a new holiday was born. 

How to celebrate National “I Love You” Day 

The idea behind this holiday is simply to share words of love and appreciation with the people in your life. Here are a few ideas on ways to do this.

Look back on special memories with loved ones

Share with the people you love the moments that brought you together. There are many ways you can do this, such as: 

• Share or post your favorite memories on social media platforms 

• Send a physical photo and a written message to an older relative who may not have social media or might simply appreciate the gesture

• Recreate an old photo with family or friends 

• Start an in-person conversation or a group text of “Do you remembers” with loved ones to immerse yourself in old memories

Make a connection with others

It’s all too easy to get caught up in the busyness of daily life and neglect our relationships. One way to celebrate National “I Love You Day” is to make a point to reconnect with people about whom you care. A few ideas include: 

• Treat yourself to a long phone call or video chat with a friend who lives far away

• Schedule a Zoom hangout with family or a friend group 

• Suggest a coffee date with an old work friend 

• Go for a hike with your significant other 

• Send a thank-you card to a former mentor 

Manifest love in the world

A broader way to honor National “I Love You” Day is to show your love for humanity by taking the time to practice a loving-kindness meditation. You can follow a free guided meditation online, or you can engage in your own practice. To do the latter, find a comfortable seat and let your mind become still. Place your hands over your heart, and for five minutes or more, focus on sending loving thoughts out to the people in your life, then to your community, your state, the country, and the world.  

Spend time with loved ones

Another simple way to observe this holiday is to make an effort to spend some quality time with the most important people in your life. Some examples of ways to make it a meaningful and special occasion include:

• Take your dog on a hike or to the dog park

• Take a parent out to lunch

• Take your child on a special outing of their choosing 

• Schedule a family dinner  

• Get coffee with your best friend 

• Participate in a game night with your significant other 

Say the words “I love you” 

While some people say these words to their loved ones with ease, others may find it challenging. Particularly for the latter group, this day can represent a good opportunity to tell someone you love that you care about them. You could say it to them in person or on the phone, send it in a text, or write it in a letter or on a sticky note left somewhere they’ll see it.

Show love to yourself 

Expressing love to others can be important, but many of us forget the value of showing love to ourselves, too. Another way to celebrate National “I Love You Day” is to show some love to yourself. See below for a few ideas.

Engage in self-care practices

Self-care can take many forms because it works best when it’s unique to the individual. Simply put, it’s about doing things that make you feel good and/or promote your well-being. Some examples you might explore on this holiday include: 

Get outside

Studies suggest that shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing, may offer benefits like lower levels of cortisol (the stress hormone) and lower blood pressure.

Practice mindfulness

Reserving a few minutes each day to take a mindful walk or meditate may provide a host of physical and mental health benefits.

Engage in a type of exercise you enjoy

Used to love volleyball? Always wanted to try roller skating? Never been on a hike? Getting physically active can be good for overall health, and it can also be an opportunity to enjoy yourself in a new way.

Say “No” 

If you’ve been feeling stressed or overwhelmed lately, you might practice setting boundaries. Saying “No” to a new activity or commitment you don’t have the capacity for can be a powerful way to show yourself love.

Check-in with your self-talk

Research suggests a correlation between positive self-talk and mindfulness and self-compassion. This National “I Love You” Day, you might take the opportunity to check in with the quality of your own self-talk—or the way you speak to or about yourself. If you notice some judgments or harsh words, you might work on trying to shift them in a more positive direction. It may help to try and speak to yourself as you would a cherished friend. Making a list of positive affirmations could also help you adopt more supportive self-talk. 

Therapy as self-care

Another way you can offer yourself and others some love is through therapy. A therapist can offer support and tools to help you manage stress, build self-esteem, cope with life transitions, nurture healthy relationships, and focus on self-awareness or self-discovery. Cognitive behavioral therapy is a common and effective therapeutic approach that’s designed to help shift negative thought patterns in a more positive direction, which may be helpful for those aiming to increase their self-love or improve their self-talk.  

Commuting to in-person therapy for regular appointments isn’t feasible for everyone, whether due to a lack of transportation, trouble finding a nearby provider, or health challenges that make it difficult to leave the house. In cases like these, online therapy can represent a more convenient alternative, since it allows you to meet with a licensed therapist remotely from the comfort of your home. Research suggests that working with an online therapist can be as effective as attending in-person sessions in many cases.