FSU spreading the message of self-love

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The Fanshawe Student Union (FSU) is putting on an 'All You Need is Love' self-love Valentine's Day event on Feb. 14 in Forwell Hall.

The Fanshawe Student Union (FSU) is switching gears when it comes to their Valentine's Day festivities, by focusing on self-love this Feb.14.

Rather than solely celebrating the conventional love of a partner or spouse, the “All You Need is Love” event, named after the well-known Beatles song, will encourage the practice of loving and putting one's self first, before giving love to somebody else.

“The point of [“All You Need is Love”] is just to come [check it] out and de-stress a bit, show yourself some love and if you have a partner or spouse for sure bring them on out too,” Kate Morris, the FSU's Student Life Co-ordinator said. “The whole point of it, is you need to love yourself before you can love anyone else, so hopefully we can get that message across and promote that.”

Morris said she believes this event will be the first of its kind, at least in terms of its self-love message, the FSU has put on before and will run in Forwell Hall from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Feb. 14.

According to Morris, the event will include some traditional Valentine's Day colours, but will also have non-traditional hues with perhaps a grunge love feel to it. “

There will be some pinks and reds visible, but I also want it to be a more inclusive Valentine's Day and “All You Need is Love” event, because some people may have a negative connotation about Valentine's Day, so we might have some black in there and it is again, not just celebrating Valentine's Day, [but rather] it's celebrating you, loving yourself, loving people around you and nothing to do with [romantic] love per say,” Morris said.

Though “All You Need is Love” isn't necessarily solely geared towards single people, but more so the greater aspect of loving yourself, it can be an event to help those who are feeling left out on Valentine's Day.

“I think [Valentine' Day] is just so publicized and it's all about being with somebody, so it's fair to say, I'm sure a lot people feel very either left out or lonely around that time. I think it's super important on Valentine's Day, especially, but every day of the year [to] take some time for you. Do something to make yourself feel better,” Morris said.

According to Morris, “All You Need is Love” plays a part tapping into the mental health aspect surrounding Valentine's Day.

“Mental health is huge and that's a big focus [for] us, of the executives and the FSU this year, as it should be all the time, but you shouldn't feel down because you don't have someone to share it with. Do something for yourself that makes you feel good, whether you're with friends, you're with a partner or you're just at home alone, that's okay. One day alone is okay and when you get through it, you feel even better,” Morris said.

According to Morris, the idea of “All You Need is Love” came together while chatting with the other FSU executives and ultimately came down to including different activities such as cookie decorating, a hot chocolate bar, a photo booth area, a consent Valentine's Day cards station and perhaps a few giveaways.

Carnations will be available at the event for purchase (either for treating yourself or your significant other), with proceeds going towards the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), this year's FSU charity of choice.

Fanshawe's sexual violence prevention advisor, Leah Marshall, will be on hand running the consent Valentine's Day cards station for students to fill out, while Christine Battson, Fanshawe residence's customer service lead will also be present helping run the day.

According to Morris, the consent Valentine's Day cards will also be a focus for “All You Need is Love”.

“It's going to be a really neat thing to kind of tie [the consent] aspect in as well and just bringing the idea of consent, that, that should always be around, that you have total consent, you should have total consent, you have the right to say yes and no, about everything,” Morris said.

Morris said this Valentine's Day activities also line up nicely during the same week as the FSU's Diversity Week, which runs from Feb. 12 to Feb. 16.

“[All You Need is Love] ties in with the love part of diversity and culture and that everybody loves, everybody's the same in that sense and it's universal as well so I really wanted to do something [for Valentine's Day],” Morris said.

According to Morris, similar to other FSU events, “All You Need is Love” is a great opportunity that allows people to be social with others in a fun environment, make new friends and also learn about different cultures and people from different walks of life.

Morris also said she hopes all students will come by and check out the different activities during the day and acknowledge that although it is Valentine's Day, it's also a day for one's self as well, whether a person has a significant other or not.

“I just hope [participants] gain a little bit more maybe self- respect for themselves and just love and know that there's other people out there who feel the same as them, whatever it be. Whether they're happily in love or they're just dating someone new or they're single and they're happy, or they're single and they're upset, but you know until you love yourself, I truly believe you can't necessarily give the love you desire to give to somebody else. So love yourself first, that's what I hope they get from this', Morris said.