Valentine’s Day may be over, but it’s still the month of love. The holiday itself can be stressful for many of us. Did we buy the perfect gift? Can we still get a reservation somewhere? We see other people receiving extravagant bouquets, but our special someone seems to have forgotten all about the big day. Even schoolchildren feel bad if they get fewer cards than the other kids do.
Maybe our heart flutters for someone who doesn’t return our feelings. Or perhaps we’re too shy to speak or have lost the one we love. Maybe our only Valentine is our cat.
Love is so much more important than the day. As Proverbs 17:17 tells us, “A friend loves at all times.” February can seem like a bleak wasteland between the holidays and the promise of spring. What better time to bring love to someone who needs it?
Finding a Valentine in the mailbox is a sure delight. But so is any friendly card or note. We’re so used to the ease of email that we tend to forget how much fun it is to receive real mail. Is there someone you’ve fallen out of touch with? Sending a card—even a postcard—takes only minutes. Draw a heart on it if you like. For an extra spoonful of love, it’s fun to slip in a small gift like a bookmark or special teabag.
During this pandemic, it’s easy to feel isolated. Imagine how hard it’s been for those who live alone—or for residents of nursing homes or assisted living, who’ve been on strict lockdown. Wherever we look, there are bound to be people in need of loving attention.
But we may think, what about us? Maybe Valentine’s Day has come and gone, and nobody—not even our cat or dog—has remembered us!
There’s no time like the present to show ourselves some love, as well. We need and deserve love no less than others we care about. Selfcare is not selfish! If no one else has stepped up, make yourself a small present of something that gives you joy.
What would you like? A potted hyacinth for the scent of early spring? Dark chocolate? Maybe a new paperback, or a beautiful mug and some special tea. Perhaps what you really want is a new pair of crafting scissors. Treat yourself. Order dinner in. Spring for a movie rental. Whatever makes you smile.
The best antidote for the winter doldrums is love—first, doing something for somebody else, and second, showing that same kindness to ourselves. Wishing you love!
Susan Kimmel Wright is a child of the Appalachian Mountains. A former lawyer, Susan has published three children’s mystery novels and is a prolific contributor to Chicken Soup for the Soul books. Please watch for her first cozy mystery for adult readers, Mabel Gets the Ax, currently set for 2021 release by Mountain Brook Ink. Susan can generally be found nose deep in a book, out in the woods with her dogs, or online at links below. Please stop by.
