Love is the divine vitality that everywhere produces and restores life.
Thanks to both Christian and ancient Roman tradition we celebrate this day of love in honor of St. Valentine. There are a few legends that surround this holiday that are perhaps a little too grim and gory to dive into. The one thing that each legend has in common is all three saints were martyred. Point being even in A.D. 270, people were throwing themselves on the sword in the name of love. It is alleged that prior to his death, Valentine wrote a letter to a girl he had fallen for and signed it “From your Valentine,” an expression that is used to this very day.
Present day, this glorified holiday is a time to express one’s feelings and exchange tokens of affection. Whether you are in a relationship or flying solo these days you should take the time to celebrate. In a matter of fact, you should celebrate the love you have for yourself and others everyday. I recently read something that resonated so highly, it was about looking back on your life and realizing the moments when you have truly lived, were the moments you had done things in the spirit of love. It is so true, when your heart is in the right place and you are leading with love, life is just seamless. Today can also be a time to reflect internally. If you are one that scowls at the thought of this day or love in general, maybe it is time to focus your energy on the people and things you surround yourself with. Ask yourself this one simple question. Is what you are doing benefiting you mentally, emotionally, and physically? If you hesitated for even a second, it is time to clean house. As hard as it may be to cut ties with people or things that do not serve you, trust me when I say it is always worth it. Life is way too short and precious to waste time, and time my friends is the one thing that we can never get back. Each waking second is a chance to start over, and see that you are amazing and deserve everything this world has to offer. Making your needs a priority is your first step. This requires you to really take a step back and ask yourself what makes you happy and truly brings you peace. Sometimes, we find ourselves in a place where we are unsure of what actually makes us happy because of the heartache or grief we have experienced. It is also common to become comfortable and complacent with the bare minimum when it comes to relationships with others as well as ourselves. In my opinion, that is the most dangerous place to be. My advice is jump out of your comfort zone, be spontaneous, and focus solely on yourself for a bit. You will find your way back, and by then all of the things you once thought were important will simply be a memory or a reminder of a place you never want to visit again. Start practicing self-care daily. Go for walk, soak up the sunshine, eat a healthy meal, spend time with those that inspire you. Whatever it is you choose to do, just start doing the things you love more often.
courageously choosing you 