Newsletters

If You’re Having a Tough Valentine’s Day, Elizabeth Gilbert Has Some Inspiring Words For You

Tara Bellucci
Tara BellucciNews and Culture Director
Tara is Apartment Therapy's News & Culture Director. When not scrolling through Instagram double-tapping pet pics and astrology memes, you'll find her thrift shopping around Boston, kayaking on the Charles, and trying not to buy more plants.
Follow
published Feb 14, 2018
Save
pinterest
comments
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
Post Image
SavePin ItSee More Images
(Image credit: Reagen Taylor)

While it might seem like everyone is happy and in love on Valentine’s Day, many are sad or lonely or grieving. If pink hearts and red roses aren’t in the cards for you today and that’s got you down, writer Elizabeth Gilbert has some words of encouragement.

The Big Magic and Eat Pray Love author took to Instagram on Wednesday to share the love, despite having lost her partner, Rayya Elias, to cancer in January. Gilbert said that even unshowered, mourning, and suffering from the flu, she just had to laugh today.

My friends, can I tell you something that is so true and sincere? I LOVE THIS WORLD. I love this life. Even today. Despite everything. (Maybe even especially today, because it’s so absurd.)

Though some might not feel like laughing, Gilbert also offered a token of affection to anyone suffering:

I want you to know: if you need a Valentine today, I will be yours. Why not? I don’t smell so good right now, sure, but my heart is pure, and I’m always ready for an interesting experience. And I love you. So let’s do this thing. Let’s love each other. Whoever you are, and whatever your life is doing to you today, I love you. True fact.

Thanks, Elizabeth.


Sometimes you catch a glimpse of yourself — unwashed, suffering from the flu, wearing your sweatpants on Valentine’s Day, navigating the unspeakably devastating loss of the love of your life — and all you can do is LAUGH. Because: seriously?! Yes. Seriously. My friends, can I tell you something that is so true and sincere? I LOVE THIS WORLD. I love this life. Even today. Despite everything. (Maybe even especially today, because it’s so absurd.) To be a human, it seems to me, is the greatest and most ridiculous and most painful and most beautiful incarnation in town. You never know what’s coming. It’s terrifying at times, but I’ll take it. I’ll take the whole ride. Why am I telling you all this? Because I know that this dumb holiday is hard for some people. And I want you to know: if you need a Valentine today, I will be yours. Why not? I don’t smell so good right now, sure, but my heart is pure, and I’m always ready for an interesting experience. And I love you. So let’s do this thing. Let’s love each other. Whoever you are, and whatever your life is doing to you today, I love you. True fact. #happyvalentinesday #youareloved #flu #gratitude #imissyourayya #badasslove #wegotthis #onward

A post shared by Elizabeth Gilbert (@elizabeth_gilbert_writer) on

Filed in:
News

How-To Toolkits