I’m quite fond of vintage valentines and this one, with its cornucopia of hearts, expresses exactly what I wish for you. An abundance of love inall areas of your life.
I think it’s an unnecessary limitation, and one that causes needless pain and challenge, to think Valentine’s Day need be focused on love in partnership, or tied into manufactured demand for consumerism. Luckily we get to define things as we want them, and I claim this as a delightful day celebrating love in all its guises.
I particularly like how Rumi frames it:
“Your task is not to seek for love, but merely seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.”
If we gave ourselves no other task in life than this, can you imagine what a rewarding exploration it would be to pursue such an openness? I think we should all take it on.
On this celebrated day of love, I send you blessings. May your heart be filled with the knowing that you are loved and appreciated for the beauty of who you truly are. In all your strengths, in all your foibles, in all your delightful eccentricities; for how you navigate your world in all your good days and in all your bad ones; for how you shine and shimmer from your very core and send that beautiful energy outward. You are loved. And my heart is filled with gratitude and appreciation for the connection you have to my life, to my heart, to me.
I believe that when we see and truly appreciate the connections of those who circle in our world most closely, it becomes easier to extend that awareness and appreciation in ever-increasing circles outward. And I think that’s what we’re all called to do – that thus our not-so-secret mission for 2022 (and all the years beyond).
Samantha Reynolds is a poet who has written a poem every day since 2011 as a way to be present in her life. She’s written a 6-line poem entitled “All I Want from Love.” I encourage you to take one moment and read it. Perhaps you’ll want to join me as I aspire to embody her hope.
Whether you celebrate Valentine’s Day or not, I invite you to consider how you might choose to live and be in a world that is is love-focused in every day. What would that be like?
I love the poem by Samantha Reynolds; it’s so true. And V-Day can be positive in that it reminds us to reflect on those we love and how to carry it through every day. The vintage Valentine is beautiful!
Wishing you a lovely day Margaret – today and always.
Lovely sentiments in that poem. Would that it was the basis of all marriages.
Indeed – what a difference that might make!
Hi Deborah – heart-felt love … a post needed today … I do hope the world will realise we all need to help others and love life and thus live peacefully in it … thanks for your thoughtful post – all the best – Hilary
I share your hope Hilary. May it be so.
Lovely post and fantastic quote by Rumi.
Thanks, dear Deborah. I needed that reminder.
Big hug, as always with love!
Rumi is such an inspiration isn’t he?! And thanks for the love Patty – sending doses back to as well.