With Valentine’s Day around the corner, my thoughts are starting to focus on love! I have been married for 34 years, so I have a built in Valentine and we have never waited for a commercialized holiday to celebrate our relationship. Mostly, I cringe when I see the Christmas items on sale 1/2 off next to the Valentine’s day cards and candies…It’s such a racket.
However, I must be mellowing, as this year I feel that this world needs as much love as we can possible give one another. Commercialized or not, we could let Valentines’s Day remind us to up our love consciousness and be more loving to more people. What if instead of having just one special Valentine, we have many. I am reminded of Anne Herbert famous saying: “Practice random acts of kindness and senseless acts of beauty.” How about Valentine’s Day being a day to practice sharing kindness with one another, and spreading joy and love without reward or acknowledgment?
Here are a few ideas that come to mind:
Send a little love note to a friend or family member that you haven’t reached out to for a while. It could be a card or a phone call, a text or even a Facebook post. Be sure to mention a shared memory that will bring a smile to their face.
Acknowledge someone in your life. Saying thank you and appreciating the kindness that others have given you can be a great gift to the receiver. This can be business acquaintances or a loving family member. Everyone likes to be acknowledged for a job well done or a kindness they have shared.
Give those chocolates to your teachers, your bank teller, your mail carrier, your gardener. So many in the service industry go unnoticed and unappreciated. How about the trash pick up people? Where would we be without those folks? There is the bagger at the grocery store or your server at your favorite lunch spot; a kind word or a little extra in the tip jar, could make someone’s day.
One time an anonymous friend planted tulip bulbs in my planter box on my front patio. To my surprise, in the spring I had the most beautiful array of colorful tulips. I never found out who did the planting but I have never forgotten the invisible act of kindness!
Returning a shopping cart, giving the guy behind you in line a coupon, putting a little money in an expired parking meter can all be random acts that are easy enough and can add a little love and kindness to someone along the way. Giving a compliment or even just a smile and friendly “hello” can make someone’s day. Kind strangers have helped me in this way and have brightened my outlook.
There is no need to wait until February 14th to be someone’s Valentine. By sharing an extra dose of love and kindness this month you could help transform Valentine’s Day into everyday. Just add love. xo
Sue Anne Parsons 500 EYT, CYT – owner of Let It Go Yoga since 1986
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