Valentine’s Day and the internet is alive with love
Whether you log on to Facebook or Twitter, Pinterest or Google+ you will see cartoons, images and updates alternately celebrating or dissing Valentine’s Day. It all depends, like so much in life, on your perspective - are you in or out of love, looking for love, or missing love?
Whatever your circumstances on this Valentine’s Day, know that love comes in many guises. We saw an outpouring of love for our beloved Rachel over the past week and we see love shown in many small ways in the blogosphere every day.
We know that love is not just for Valentine’s Day – a Hallmark endorsed concept – but something much wider and deeper. Brene Brown writes on her blog today of how we can ”reboot Valentine’s Day as a day of sharing love with everyone.”
Give to people on the street. Tip outrageously. Help a stranger. Write a note telling someone how much you appreciate them. Smile. Donate (more) to a cause that means a lot to you. Take clothes to GoodWill. Share your toys (grownups and kids). Be patient with yourself and with others. Replace the toilet paper in the bathroom. All generous acts count!
I love this idea of rebranding “V Day” into “G Day” don’t you?
So let’s celebrate love in all its myriad ways today. Choose today to share some love, some kindness, some compassion. Let’s reclaim the true meaning of the word “love” on this Valentine’s Day!
What one thing can you do today to show and share your love?
What a fantastic idea! Many thanks to you, Marie, and Brene for the reminder that no amount of kindness is too small.
Well you know my favorite quote on that Nancy comes from Leo Buscaglia
“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.”
And it’s so true!
I love everything about this. Excellent.
Now go spread some love
Such an important idea, Marie! Today I will make an effort to smile directly at people. Sometimes it’s hard to remember that when we’re overly busy or distracted. Thx for the reminder
And thanks for the great suggestion
Sorry Marie, but I’d rather it kept as V. G should get a day of it’s own, or a month of it’s own so people make that a habit. It’s rare I get the opportunity to celebrate just one other person totally, so for me this is the one day I go all out for himself. I do all the nice things anyhow to others but this for me is his day. I get so much joy out of planning everything around him and then to see the joy well, be it just packed sannies and a flask of tea (which we’re doing first to celebrate our move into the house6 years ago today) or preparing a fab meal with all the trimmings. I just love the whole lot of it more as it’s done with him in mind on the V day. Bringing in all the world would just bring it back to an ordinary day for me.
Valentine’s Day was never really a day for me that meant excitedly waiting for the postman or a delivery man with bouquets of flowers, even though I was with a man that I loved for 20 years (he wasn’t into ‘all that’ silly demonstrative stuff) I never minded, though, as during a lot of those years with that man…I received many words, tokens and gestures of love which meant more to me than receiving the odd obligitory Valentine card…that was ‘us’. The ‘us’ is unfortunately not ‘us anymore…but I’m not sad this Valentine’s Day. I have two very special gifts that are a constant reminder of the love we shared for all those years…and 12 years of wonderful handmade Valentine Cards made with lots of love and thought, and cute, interesting artwork
and I woke this morning to the words…”Happy Valentine’s Day Mummy”. Love isn’t just for Valentine’s Day and even those of us who aren’t in a relationship right now…can ‘feel the love’ through any of it’s myriad ways. We are all so different so Happy Valentine’s Day to everyone no matter what card, flower, candlelit meal, touch, thoughtfulness, care, compliment, kindness, smile etc. we receive today…may we all enjoy 
Love is a very healing vibration. The more we give, the better we will feel, so let’s do as you suggest, Marie and GIVE it to everyone!
Cancer Warrior
http://www.perksofcancer.com
[...] like two of my inspirations: Brene Brown and Marie at Journeying Behind Breast Cancer, I am jumping on the rebranding Valentine’s Day bandwagon. For all of you other singles out [...]
Well, no roses or romance for me today – just focusing on the idea of love, support, and community as I upload Narrative Nipple’s Love issue for this month. Visiting your post was a nice break! G day to you!
Catherine
“love” it!
I “love” this idea, too. Hallmark holidays just don’t float my boat. Instead of giving in to them, I’d rather be out and about doing as much good as possible. All those suggestions in the quote you provided help to further the “G day” concept. I listened to others’ struggles on the phone today, cleaned out more of my storage unit, gabbed with some lonely fellow tenants, and got a cavity filled. How’s that?
XOXO
As a sad singelton on Valentine’s Day, I really loved reading this post – thank you x
I am with you all the way on this one Marie. Let’s take the day back! And make something beautiful of it. x
I have never been sorry when I have been generous and often sorry when I have not. Really appreciated your post.
I would love to use this quotation. It is so true. Thank you