Let Love Live

This entry is mainly devoted to the love of my life, Rita. But more importantly to remind you to appreciate those special people in your life.

Every year, the impending day of overstated love and chocolate ridden profit, Valentines ignites a combination of emotions for many different people. For me, I feel the love and appreciation for my wife. For others, it may be resentment, happiness, longing or apathy that they feel for the 14^th day of February.  Over the years, it seems that Valentine’s Day has gotten a bad rap as just another Hallmark scheme disguised in cards, flowers, and candy—Oh my! But as I do during most holidays, I look into the initial meaning behind this day—to appreciate the one I love.

The one you love can be anyone, not just the alleged “significant other”. Your valentine can be your parents, a colleague or your best friend. Valentine’s Day is meant for you to show your appreciation for those who have been with you through the bad and the good, the hard and the easy. We should all be so fortunate as to have such strong champions of our potential. The support, encouragement and love of the people in your life are absolutely vital to success in the nth degree.

Valentine’s Day is not the enemy, it is our ally. It grants us the opportunity to be reminded that there are people in our lives whom we cherish, and should not be forgotten. Even if you don’t take the actual day to your advantage, use it as a prompt to cue your display of affection to those people, or person.  Even a simple card of understated adoration that says “thank you for being you” can move a person more than you realize.  You never want to be presented with the instant that you realize, that the moment to show your love has come and gone. It is a situation I wish for no one. It’s hard to embrace, but eventually you learn to value those who have held your hand along the way.

So let me leave you with this: let love live and appreciate those who do. I love you Rita.