Valentines Day
"One ...Valentine's Day thought for you. You know, we have two holidays that celebrate wars and the people who are sent to fight them: Memorial Day and Veteran's Day. You'd think folks would be a little less curmudgeonly about a holiday celebrating love. I'd like to expand Valentine's Day, or even make a whole new holiday that is centered around celebrating solving conflicts with love, and feeling love for others that is not necessarily a romantic love. I like Valentine's Day because it's a peaceful little holiday about love, instead of a celebration of the dark and twisted things we spend too much time celebrating as it is. So, happy Valentine's Day to you all, and I love you." - Melissa Balick
As a sceptic of Valentine's day - I came across this quote on Facebook by Melissa Balick and I stopped to think. I thought about how I had become jaded by the commercialism of this holiday. But this isn't what it has to be about.We need more LOVE in this world. Our societies are hurting and we need to spread and celebrate love. We don't need to celebrate on random day in February but every day. However, it is a built in reminder, a built in day to recharge. A built in day to create new traditions about love.Make this a day about loving your neighbor, your community, your schools. Make this a day about loving your family and repairing any wounds that may have occurred throughout the year. Make this a day to reach out to those that you haven't talked to in awhile. It is a day to find your local schools that are struggling financially and support them. Whether you have kids or not- they are creating the youth that will be guiding our futures.It is also important to respark with your partner. That is something to celebrate. Life happens. It moves to quickly. Valentine's Day is a reminder to appreciate those that are standing by you. Reinvigorate love that already exists in your life.So - let's create new traditions:
- Go on an adventure with someone that you love.
- Donate to schools and non-profits.
- Drop off a letter to your neighbors. (Even better make a pie)
- Get a blanket and a meal to someone that is homeless.
- Call family and repair wounds.
- Visit and donate to a library.
- Play a game with your kids and tell each other all of the reasons that you love them.
Thank you Melissa for the reminder. Let's celebrate love rather than war.What ideas do you have for new Valentine's Day traditions?