Oscar Wilde - To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance

Welcome to the Daily Quote – a podcast designed to kickstart your day in a positive way. I'm your host, Andrew McGivern, for October 11th.Today is It's My Party Day, and yes, you read that right – it's literally a day dedicated to throwing yourself a party for no reason at all. Celebrated annually on October 11th, this delightfully self-indulgent holiday encourages you to celebrate yourself, gather friends and family, and have a good time simply because you want to.While the origins of this unofficial holiday are somewhat mysterious, it's believed to be inspired by the spirit of celebration and self-appreciation. The beauty of It's My Party Day is that you don't need a birthday, anniversary, promotion, or any traditional milestone to justify a celebration. Sometimes the best reason to celebrate is simply that you're here, you're doing your best, and life deserves to be enjoyed.In a world that often tells us we need to earn joy, achieve something significant, or wait for the perfect moment, It's My Party Day offers a refreshing counter-message: you don't need permission to celebrate yourself and your life.Today's quote comes from author Oscar Wilde, who said:"To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance."Wilde's observation captures exactly what It's My Party Day celebrates – the radical act of treating yourself with the same enthusiasm, appreciation, and celebration that we typically reserve for others or for major achievements. When you throw yourself a party "just because," you're declaring that your existence, your journey, your simple presence in the world is worthy of celebration.Think about how often we wait for external validation or significant milestones before we allow ourselves to celebrate. We'll throw elaborate parties for others, but feel awkward about honoring ourselves. We'll celebrate promotions and graduations, but not the everyday victories of showing up, persisting, growing, and simply being who we are.Wilde understood that self-love isn't narcissism – it's the foundation for a fulfilling life. When you genuinely appreciate yourself, when you can celebrate your own existence without needing external justification, you're engaging in what he beautifully calls a "lifelong romance." You're choosing to be in a loving relationship with yourself, complete with the celebrations, appreciation, and joy that any good relationship deserves.It's My Party Day is an invitation to practice this self-love in a tangible, joyful way.As you head into your Saturday, embrace the spirit of It's My Party Day. You don't need to throw an actual party – though that would be wonderful – but you can celebrate yourself in ways big or small.Maybe it's treating yourself to something special. Maybe it's taking time to acknowledge what you've overcome this year. Maybe it's calling friends together for no reason except that you enjoy their company. Maybe it's simply looking in the mirror and recognizing that you, exactly as you are right now, are worthy of celebration.Stop waiting for permission or the perfect achievement to celebrate yourself. As Wilde understood, loving and celebrating yourself isn't the end of the journey – it's the beginning of a beautiful, lifelong relationship with the most important person in your life: you.That's going to do it for today. Thanks for listening.I'm Andrew McGivern, signing off for now. But I'll be back tomorrow, same pod time, same pod station - with another Daily Quote.