I agree Valentine's Day has become a highly commercialized "Hallmark" holiday. It is hard to feel genuinely romantic with all the pressure of spending money on presents, flowers, reservations on fancy restaurants, parties, dresses, getaways, messages, phone calls... Another blessed day for the retailers... But why not stop with the anti-Valentine complaints and use this day as an opportunity. Frankly, the overall tendency of a holiday driven by commercialism doesn't bother me unless I see spiritual impoverishment of the human soul. Why? Because in the words of the wisest professor Morri, you don't need to buy into this culture – "work at creating and building your own little subculture. You can't let anyone – or any society – determine how you think, what you value... Invest in people, in the human family. Build a little community of those you love and who love you."
So, in my world, I am not letting no one destroy the spirit of what Valentine's Day means to me. It has never been a grand affair in my family, yet has never been ignored. Regardless of any biblical or non-biblical perceptions, to me, Valentine's Day is a day to celebrate Love and Romance. A day to declare your feeling of fondness and appreciation for these special people in your life. A day to celebrate the love of yourself, love for life, the divine love. Love, attraction, romance are as old as the world.
I know, it is sad to count on being romantic and showing love on only one day out of the year. But I am not a perfect human being and often getting carried in the busyness of the fast-paced life. Perhaps that is why I embrace this special day in which I tend consciously to set the tone for how I treat others in my everyday relationships, as a partner, as a friend, as a mother and a daughter, as an individual. The way I feel and express my love towards my man, my son, my friends, my parents, my colleagues and people I meet on Valentine's Day sets a standard to me for how I would celebrate them every single day of the year. In other words, I use Valentine's Day as the perfect practice of making every other day a possible Valentine's Day, if you will.
In fact, showing love and appreciation doesn't take a lot (and money). Simple things can go a long way:
- listen to what others love and dream about;
- surprise them with something special for them;
- be inventive in your words; the same phrases lose impact with repetition;
- detach from the ego, be humble, be open, be vulnerable;
- cook for others, share a meal; there is something so honest and generous to do that for someone you love;
- take time to send cards/make cards (Valentines); I miss the evenings of having to make Valentines for my son's elementary grade classes;
- knowing that your wife's car needs gas, surprise her while she is in yoga class by taking the car from the parking lot, filling the tank with gas at the nearest gas station and bringing the car back (who does that? Well, my husband!)
- bake your son's favorite cookies in the shape of a mini heart; fill a jar with them and give it as a gift to someone you love; for a vintage appeal, cover the jar's lid with old paper  (find a recipe here);
- share a cup of coffee in the morning with a loved one, maybe, a tea in the afternoon with a friend; add a romantic touch with a mini heart that perches on the edge of the cup;
- sing a song, dance a tango even if you can't ...
- love yourself; we are born with love and if we know how to love ourselves as an integral and equal part of the whole UNIverse, then we will be able to offer love to others; the more love we give out, the more it builds inside of us and more we will get back ...

It is even easy on Valentine's Day.

 Love is in the Air     









And, no matter what we think about Valentine's Day, who doesn't love indulging in some good chocolate?
I do!

And if you think all this sounds cliche, I agree, "important things are inevitably cliche."







 " Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK." 
- Danny, age 7


                                                                               
                                                                                      Hugs and kisses to you! XOXO




Happy Valentine Pink Saturday
Seasonal Sundays
Savvy Southern Style
Stone Gable