International Masturbation Day Special: Explore Self-Love Through Self-Gratification
PUBLISHED May 22nd, 2023 06:00 am | UPDATED June 3rd, 2023 08:44 pm
If you didn’t already know, May 28 is International Masturbation Day. This day exists because it is a wonderful way to love yourself. Although we rarely consider the solo act of self-gratification an act of self-love, it’s a natural human behaviour beneficial for our well-being. Besides practising self-love by nourishing our bodies with good food, working out, and giving ourselves positive affirmations, let this International Masturbation Day be the start for you to consider masturbation as an act of self-care!
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International Masturbation Day
What began as a protest has become a celebration. The history of International Masturbation Day is an intriguing sex-positive story that started with the forced resignation of the former Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders in 1994. Known for her unorthodox yet effective approaches, the progressive American paediatrician and public health administrator’s suggestion to include masturbation in sex education was the last straw that broke the camel’s back. This angered the sex-positive community, and resulted in a commemoration of this day as a form of protest and awareness.
Masturbation Is Self-Love
Self-love is the foundation for a healthy and fulfilling life. Besides nurturing ourselves, it involves fully embracing ourselves. For that to happen, we need to know ourselves. Exploring and pleasuring ourselves through masturbation is a powerful way to deepen our connection with our bodies. And when we accept and respond to our body’s urges, we learn to embrace our individual sexuality. In this sense, masturbation becomes an act of self-love.
Just as we would make love to a loved one, self-gratification is a way to love ourselves. But going solo doesn’t mean it has to be boring. Introduce a little play into your ritual with luxury toys for him and her, or build up the hedonistic pleasure with cute toys and workshops. Visual creatures can easily delight themselves with the multitude of visual stimuli on the internet, while aural folks who are turned on by sounds can immerse themselves in audio stories with ASMR from websites like Audio Desires. A
nd if you are a bibliophile, what better than seeking pleasure from something you already enjoy – a whole library of erotic novels and manga. Take the holistic path with the award-winning app created by ob-gyn and psychologists Rosy. The subscription-based app hosts audio erotica and stories, dishes out expert information, and even provides personalised wellness plans and coaching sessions with wellness experts.
Self-Gratification is Good for You
Research suggests you take pleasure into your own hands. It is a healthy way to experience pleasure and a safe way to release sexual tension. Although it can be unsafe when done excessively or compulsively, it is a fun and natural act that brings a ton of benefits:
- Boost mood
- Sleep better
- Relieve built-up stress
- Release sexual tension
- Relax
- Feel pleasure and enjoyment
- Improve self-esteem
- Have better sex
- Better understand your needs and wants
(source: Healthline)
So, skip the guilt trip and journey into the “forbidden” zones with a positive attitude; get to know your body and learn about your wants and needs. Embrace your individuality and sexuality as you explore self-love through self-gratification on International Masturbation Day.
