Hi Readers,
I have a question for you.
Is Valentine's Day really all about the "glitz and the glam?" Is it about the store bought chocolates, the Russell Stover's sweets, the roses, the endless flowers and teddy bears, the sentimental cards? Or, is Valentine's Day more than just the "material" things?
"Everything in moderation" is a good quote to live by. Too much of a good thing, can be hurtful or even, in some cases, detrimental. I'm not saying that we should not buy/purchase our loved ones valuable things. Everyone deserves to have their affection for their significant other shown in a variety of ways. However, if material things are the only ways by which one shows their love to another - then we should probably examine both the short and long term affects on ourselves and on the other person that these possessions have.
We all like to be appreciated with material things. I love flowers, especially Zinnias! This does not go to say that "love" (however that looks for you) should be represented only in such "material" ways. In my opinion, love should be represented every day, and not just on one holiday. It should be a holiday that we celebrate our love for each other, our jobs, our friends, our co-workers, or workplaces, our neighbors, our families, etc. It should also be a holiday where that may be a culmination of the ways in which we show our love in these experiences throughout the entire year or leading up to the celebration, for that matter, too. Love is not just romantic (though society has somehow geared it towards that in recent years) but includes familial and friendship, too.
Love is, truly priceless. Sure, a nice open heart necklace from Kay's Jeweler's may be lovely (!) but a listening ear, a kind word, a thoughtful, intelligent conversation, a cup of coffee - those things mean more to me than a dozen roses, assorted chocolates, and teddy bears combined! Though, flowers would brighten up my desk and I could probably teach a whole lesson on roses and tie it into science and math and writing :)
This Valentine's Day, lets take a deeper look into the things that we "love" and the things that we "care about." May we search for those that hold a deep place in our hearts and seek to share them with the people who are in our lives.
-cheers.
