Misty Rains

"Let your love be like the misty rains, coming softly, but flooding the river." 

 ~Malagasy Proverb

Today is Valentine's Day, what does that mean to you? Does it have any meaning? Is it just another day of the week, the month, another day in your year? For some it's a day of sadness for they feel as though they have no one who loves them, or maybe they are missing a loved one. For others the commercialization of this day drives them into protest. There may be some people who simply just don't partake because they feel as though this holiday doesn't represent anything significant because they spend their lives loving fully and intentionally everyday.......which is really how we should love, don't you think?

I've read many peoples thoughts on the day today, amazingly, there aren't many positive attributes to share! So many folks are feeling dragged down by the thought of sharing love, receiving love, admitting love. Has love really become a lost emotion? Are so many feeling that love is not worth the time or energy or that there are better things to do than to express how one feels about another? I'm not an expert and to be honest I live in a bit of a bubble but I would hope that somewhere deep inside those folks they can find that there is more to today than just roses, diamonds, fancy dinners out, and Hallmark cards. Somewhere I hope they can see, like any other festival or holiday that marks a milestone in time, that this day commemorates the celebration of love. How love has triumphed over evils. How today there are more and more people who are able to freely love whom they choose without laws and fewer protesters to hold them back. Today, in my heart, marks a day in our history where love prevails. It reminds me of how fortunate I am to be loved so deeply by so many; my husband, my children, my family and friends.......my cat! Like any other day, today brings up my intention to be more mindful and grateful for the life that I have. Promising myself to live each day more fully and with less fear. I think about those who love but are missing and for those who feel like they are not loved or those who think they just don't have anything left within them to love. In my mind, I imagine loving them, sending them hugs and loving thoughts that will carry them through the day, imagining that magically they feel loved but are unsure as to where it's come from. Maybe they will find a sense of strength that comes from within and they realize that someone does love them......that they love themselves! From that moment, they smile more, reach out, and in turn give back this magical love that they feel to someone else who might feel lonely or sad. Love is eternal, never ending. It spreads faster and wider than any other emotion, why not do amazing things with it?

There are many conflicting stories when it comes to the history of St. Valentine's Day. One thing that is for sure is that the word Valentine comes from the Latin word valens meaning worthy, powerful, and strong. If today is considered to be a day to celebrate the love in our life........aren't we all worthy of love? Are we not powerful and strong in our emotion to love and be loved? Isn't our love so powerful that it has affected another being? Are we stronger in heart and soul when we know that we are loved by another or when we are free to love and express our deepest passion for another being? Like the quote from above, our love should flow gently and steadily like a misty rain but overflow the boundaries of the one we share our love with. Our love should exceed any walls, break down any fears, hold strong all that is good

On this day, if you are one of the folks feeling low, think about how your love is strong, worthy, and powerful. Consider how you might think differently about love in your life; how you express your love, how you accept love, how you give love, or even what you might expect out of love. Do something special for yourself and another being if you choose........prepare a delicious meal or treat, spend time feeling loved in nature by going for a walk or sitting near a stream or river, visit your local shelter and share some goodies with the animals who are seeking their forever loves, volunteer your time with a group that prepares free meals to those who are less fortunate, make some birdseed treats and hang them in your trees to share the love with your feathered friends, or simply remind yourself that you are loved by someone, somewhere and you don't need some material object to make it so. Sit quietly and think deeply on those you love or have loved. Thank them for that precious gift. Try to open your heart to the possibility of loving again, or rekindling a love in your life.  Any and all of these ideas can happen today, tomorrow, next week.......any day! Love doesn't come and go with Valentine's Day........it is eternal. Share your love eternally, the only consequence is your heart may double or triple in size!

Wishing you nothing but love in your life, to give and receive, today and everyday!