Emer O'Callaghan: A time for love this Valentine’s Day

What the world needs now is love, sweet love, it’s the only thing that there’s just too little off...

Well, you can sing it, sister.

Jackie DeShannon released that song back in 1965, long before my time, but it applies just as much to today.

The state of the world now - there is far too much hate, greed, ego, and evil, you only have to turn on your TV to see it daily.

It made headlines around the world when that young Beckham lad publicly chastised his parents on social media, and everyone had a front row seat in what I believe should be a private family matter. Where did the love get misplaced there?

Love should never ever be forgotten, it should be the root that we all come back to, always.

That Beckham saga made me very grateful that I only have love now and forever for all of my family. When did love get so outshone by hate?

This is the week of love - it’s Valentine’s Day this Saturday, and I always loved it for its feelgood factor, but also because it just brings the bit of mischief out in me too.

Back in school, I used to have great fun putting Valentine cards from other people in my friends’ lockers and then watch their flummoxed faces reading them. Now, in my defence, I’ve been on the receiving end many a time too, I can tell ya.

I once got a dozen roses and a bunch of heart balloons sent in to school to me in 6th year - a mixed school so you can imagine the slagging I got.

The gesture was well lost on me, and it will go down as one of my most embarrassing moments when the principal landed in mid-class saying, ‘Miss O’Callaghan, a delivery for you’. I went as red as the roses, I can tell you.

Still, I take it all in the good fun and romance in which it is meant, and I enjoy this day always.

I remember my brothers and I sending our Nanna, god rest her soul, a Valentine’s card. Well, we thought it was the funniest thing ever, she played along so well and pretended to be so thrilled to have a secret admirer in the bingo!

I do my best every day to show love where I can, it might be a smile to a stranger, a listening ear to a friend, helping a client clear their skin problem, pulling in the neighbour’s bin for them, supporting my own, as we say in Cork.

We all have so many opportunities every day in which we can choose love over negativity and hate. None of us is perfect, I’m certainly not, I’ve my flaws same as the next person, but I know I have a good heart and I don’t ever set out to hurt anyone - I often wish others would be of the same mindset.

Yet, still, after 25 years working as a beautician, I see every day in my job how so many refuse to love themselves, and, as the old saying goes, you have to love yourself first.

So this week I want to highlight the many ways we all can give ourselves and others more love for the week that’s in it. God knows the world needs it.

GRIEF IS THE PRICE WE PAY FOR LOVE

None of us escape grief, sadly, it’s part of life, we all know it. They say grief is the price we pay for love.

We also grieve people who are alive, there is grief in the end of a marriage, a life altered from what it should have been. There is grief in the breakdown of a friendship, or a work colleague leaving or retiring. The grief of children emigrating - we didn’t escape this in my family either, as only last week another of my nieces left Cork for Oz.

I felt the pull in my heart hugging her goodbye, I cried for the week.

None of us knows what God’s plan for any of us is, and let’s face it, goodbye is never easy - but we must let them fly.

SHOW YOUR EMOTIONS

I don’t care if you’re 19 or 99, if there is someone you love, tell them, tell your friends, your family, whoever you love.

The outpouring of love at funerals is wonderful, but I always hope these people said such things when the person was alive.

The same with flowers - give them to people when they are here, not just when they are sadly departed.

I hear clients in my clinic all the time tell me about someone they fancy or like, but are too afraid to tell them, and I always say, ‘Sure, what have you got to lose in letting them know?’ They might be missing out on a great relationship.

I also see many older people, and how their love has endured.

Valentine’s Day is a lovely opportunity to express our emotions of love, and St Valentine would want you to take the opportunity too.

SPREAD THE LOVE

These is always a rose and some treats and chocolate for my clients in Emerald Beauty Clinic this week.

I try to spread the love in as many ways as I can, and I believe every woman deserves a beautiful rose on Valentine’s. Many of my clients say after how their husband was asking where the rose came from and we laugh - keep them guessing and on their toes, it’s good for them!

I laugh when some of my younger single clients feel hard done by on Valentines Day, until I remind them that they could actually love themselves, buy themselves some flowers, there’s no-one stopping you doing that - and I see the lightbulb moment.

Also, we women forget that men also like compliments and to be told they look good. I love giving people a lift like that, it costs nothing, and smiles are contagious, you know.

BE VALENTINE'S READY!

Waxing, facials, manicures, pedicures, electrolysis, lashes, tinting, eye treatments... it’s fair to say it’s a busy week for us beauticians and the biggest message I will give you ladies is be prepared.

Those hairy legs and facial hairs won’t vanish by themselves, you need to get your treatment done. Same goes for the nails, the amount of times I have done manicures in the past on panicked girls who got engaged on Valentine’s night but had no nails done and needed them done fast to show off the ring. The clever girl is always prepared!

I did one of my popular beauty videos on this recently, you can watch it on our Emerald Beauty Facebook/instagram/TikTok pages now.

SELF-LOVE MATTERS

Anyone who loves themselves can love others.

We wouldn’t have a fraction of the turmoil this world is enduring now if there was more education on self- love.

My heart was lifted watching on social media last week the Buddhist Walk for Peace in America. In order to restore peace to our beautiful world, we must show love, love for ourselves, for each other and everyone we come in contact with.

If love was the dominant energy and the natural currency we all used daily, what a wonderful world this would be. I hope you spread love this Valentines Day.

Emer O’Callaghan is a multi award winning Beauty Doctor and Skin Specialist who won Irish Beauty Therapist of the year and works at Emerald Organic Beauty Products Ltd, trading as Emerald Beauty Clinic, 021 4365949, www.emeraldbeautyclinic.ie - follow us on Facebook/instagram/Tik Tok.

SPECIAL OFFER: All February, book any of our award-winning Guinot or Dermalogica facials, 90 minutes, and get a complimentary eyebrow shape and a travel size bag of skincare samples and treats. Appointments necessary, to book call Emerald Beauty Clinic on 021 4365949. Free parking for clients.