What if You’re Not Thrilled About Valentine’s Day?
(Happy Valentine’s Week to all!..Here are some thoughts about Valentine's Day)
Many people aren’t crazy about Valentine’s Day. I have a friend who gets grouchy every year at this time.
“Why should I have to prove my love to someone on one specific day,” my friend asks, “when I show that love to them all year?”
I like Valentine's Day, but I think they do have a point. Sometimes there’s too much pressure on this day.
One person, the romantic, wants their partner to bring them the perfect gift, treat them like a queen, be ultra romantic.
What if you’re not in the mood? What if you’re broke? Should the test of your love be dependent on one day of doing the “right” thing?
And the romantic also gets confused. Loving to celebrate and be generous, they like to do something special for the ones they love. But when they do, sometimes the object of their affection (like my friend) gets irritated, resists the gift giving, and doesn't actively rejoice in the form in which the love is being offered.
And that's just couples.
Those who don't have a sweetheart face another kind of pressure. "What is wrong with me," they may ask, "that I don't have someone dying to treat me to a special evening?"
Wow, what a lot of emotional drama for one day in the year.
Of course, not everyone is feeling this way. There are plenty of people who love Valentine's Day, and delight in the opportunity to show their love and affection for lovers, partners, and friends (not necessarily all three at once, of course 
) And that's how it should be, a tribute to the spirit of the legendary St. Valentine, who some say believed in love so strongly that he performed marriages for others even at the risk of death.
(Note: I, myself do not want to be misunderstood and labeled as the bah humbug of Valentine's Day. I love that loving feeling, so if you were counting on treating me like a princess on Valentine's Day or any other day, please don't stop now! Read #2, about being able to receive love…yes! yes! I'll take it !
But I digress, there are still some good thoughts here, whether you like Valentine's Day or not…ahem, Please continue…)
Whether you're for or against, you're going to run into someone who's going to remind you that Saturday is Valentine's Day (like me). So how about if we just skip the whole dynamic of proving anything, or resisting anything, and go to some simple action. Let’s let the day be a lovely reminder of three things to ask ourselves:
1. Am I expressing the love I feel for others?
If you love someone, wouldn't it be nice for them to know it? This doesn’t have to be through daily verbal “I love you”, although if your loved one responds most to words, you might want to consider it. But there are many ways to express love, through actions, words, and unspoken but deeply felt and expressed connection.
2. Am I allowing others to express their love for me?
You may not realize it, but if you’re shutting down or refusing the generosity of others, you’re diminishing the amount of energy that they are able to express in other areas of their lives. As you allow others to give to you, their energy expands. After giving to you, they'll ride on that good feeling and open their hearts in many other ways. You won’t be the only person to benefit; that person and the whole world will benefit.
3. Am I actively loving myself?
This may be the most important question for you. Many of us forget that if we are taking care of ourselves, and truly respecting and treating ourselves with love, that our hearts will naturally open more. With more open and relaxed hearts, we’ll be more easily loving others, and creating the life that we all really want to live.
What are the basics of loving yourself? Taking care of your body, mind, and soul.
Which have you been neglecting?
As you share your love with others, don't forget yourself.
Happy Valentine’s Day to you.
However you choose to mark the day, whether you celebrate it or ignore it, may you feel the love that is being offered to you every day.
And may that love expand tenfold within you, allowing you to easily and generously enjoy passing it along.
(P.S.Still feeling grouchy? No pressure from me, but I have special rates on Soul Whispers sessions this month. If you've been wanting to treat yourself or someone else to something special, this is something relaxing, luxurious, and different. Go here for more info…)
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