Happy Valentine’s Day

Photograph by Xavier Photographic Art

Yes, Valentine’s Day is right around the corner again.  I am not sure there is another holiday that pulls out so many different feelings in people.  Why should we be compelled to declare our love simply because someone wants to sell greeting cards?  Have I known this person long enough to buy them a Valentine’s gift?  What are our own expectations for this day?  Why do I have to wear red?  Is my love measured by the amount someone else spent on a gift for me or the amount that I spend on someone else’s gift?

I choose to look at it differently.  It is not about flowers or fancy dinners.  It is not about material gifts.  The spirit of Valentine’s Day should resonate like the spirit of Christmas but sadly it does not.  Feeling loved and giving love is something that we all should have a chance to do each and every day.  It is not a bad thing to have one day when we make a choice to reach out to others and even look inside of ourselves to know that we are each enough as we are and we each deserve to be loved.  Hug your spouse, your partner, your family.  Reach out to friends or someone who needs it to honor the love you have in your life and spread it around.