February 20, 2025

Despite being a self-proclaimed lover girl, Valentine’s Day has always been a holiday that I’ve struggled with in recent years.

It used to feel like a reminder that as time progressed, I still hadn’t found my one (ya know, like in the movies), and if I’m being honest, that the men I was entertaining didn’t even think enough of me even to send an obligatory Valentine’s Day text (how tragic, right?). Thank God for growth and real self-love and confidence, because within the last two years, something in me has shifted. I’m a whole new woman, and I was reminded of that on this year’s holiday for the lovers.

It could have something to do with the fact that V-Day 2025 fell on a Friday, which, astrologically speaking, is referred to as Venus Day. Lover’s Day being on its actual day is quite magical, especially given that Venus, the planet associated with beauty, creativity, harmony, magnetism, and of course, love, is exalted during that particular moment of the week — and I don’t know about y’all, but my day indeed reflected that.

I kicked off the day with a heart-shaped biscuit from Chick-fil-A before diving into the work day, which included screening Opus, a new thriller film starring The Bear’s Ayo Edebiri, interviewing country music artist and Cowboy Carter collaborator Tiera Kennedy, and finally connecting with one of my editors in person for coffee.

It was a busy day but a joyous one, and one of the best parts was just communicating with different people and seeing the twinkle appear in their eyes when the conversation shifted to them talking about something they’re deeply passionate about.

To end the day, I spent time with a few of my favorite individuals at Beats + Ballads, an open-mic jam session in Atlanta that’s the perfect blend of live performances, spoken word, and storytelling, wrapped into community within people who just love music and the arts, period.

It’s a little like what I’ve always felt in the movies. You know, the scenes when lovers, romantic or platonic, are out on a date vibing at the spot. Yeah, Beats + Ballads is just that.

Seeing my people and enjoying good music and vibes was the perfect way to wrap up Valentine’s Day and a reminder that I’m genuinely not lacking in the love department. I’m in constant connection with people who love me wholeheartedly, and I know this because of their actions, the ways they show up for me, hold space for me when I need it, and just generally create beautiful memories with me that I know will last a lifetime.

For the first time, I did not feel my inaugural ping of sadness or thoughts of “Why haven’t I found my person ye. Instead, those feelings were replaced with “Wow, I’m truly love.” I embody love, and I try to exude it to every soul I come into contact with.

I am in love, and I’m genuinely in love with this version of Shanique Liz Yates. I’m healthy, I’m happy, I’m hot, and I’m honestly in one of my best eras like ever! I’m finally seeing why people say the best is yet to come because it’s arrived right at my doorstep, and I’m glad that I never rejected it just because it hasn’t always looked like I thought it would.

And the love didn’t stop on Friday. On Saturday, I was in the building with one of the best creatives to come out of Virginia, THE Pharrell Williams, and THE Pusha T even made an appearance. How ironic, right?

We’re all from Virginia, dubbed the place for the lovers, and yet in this space and time, we were all in the same building in Atlanta during Lovers Day weekend. It doesn’t get more aligned than that.

My lover's high continued Saturday night for an intimate Galentine’s event at this sexy spot called May Peel, located in the basement of Hotel Grenada.

What I’ve gathered from last weekend is that sometimes our minds can trick us into thinking that what we have is not enough. Personally, this happens to me more often than I’d care to admit. But, Valentine’s Day Weekend 2025 for me was a beautiful reminder that sometimes all you have to do is open your eyes to the limitless potential that surrounds you, whether it’s love, career, or what have you — the limit does not exist when it comes to this life God has gifted us with on earth, never forget that.

May the rest of the year be a continued reminder that you are loved and that you are love. I know it’s a sentiment I’ll be carrying with me from here on out. I hope ya’ll had the best Lovers Day/Weekend/Night/Month.

And if you have been getting your freak on this month in honor of V-Day (as a Scorpio I hope y’all were either putting in work to bring more little Scorps into the world or practicing), I wrote a little something fun for MadameNoire that should help you spice things up in the bedroom: Cosmic Climax: The Steamiest Valentine’s Day Sex Positions For Every Zodiac Sign.