When people were asked about their best Valentine’s Day gift, some of the responses were romantic while others were more family oriented. Katie Conklin said her best gift was marrying her best friend 35 years ago.
“My best Valentine’s Day present was a phone call from my son in Afghanistan,” said Diana Kodadek. “Just hearing his voice made me realize how much I love him.”
One woman had fond memories of her dad bringing home heart-shaped boxes of chocolate for each of the kids and a big box of chocolates for their mom.
Koy Patten actually came home from a seminar and found a new car sitting in her driveway with a big heart balloon attached.
Maybe you don’t have a romantic someone in your life or immediate family close by to shower you with gifts, but that doesn’t mean you have to dread Valentine’s Day. Perhaps this is the year to start a new tradition of doing something special for yourself just because. Invite friends over for dinner instead of going out to eat; buy a box of chocolates and watch your favorite movie or buy yourself a bouquet of flowers. Remember, love starts with you learning to love yourself first. You can’t pass on what you don’t possess.
If you are a member of the “lonely hearts club” and really down in the dumps, the best way to pull yourself out is to do something nice for someone else. We all probably know someone who would enjoy an unexpected visit, a phone call or a box of chocolates to brighten their day.
When you take the focus off of yourself and look to meet someone else’s need, you will likely be amazed at how much better you will feel.
This Valentine’s Day, if you have a spouse or someone who is the focus of your affection, loved ones close by or children to hug, take advantage of the opportunity to celebrate. You don’t have to spend tons of money to say I love you, nor do you have to spend precious time focusing on the things you don’t have on this day. Try to resist the temptation of having a pity party for one, and use this day to count your blessings. When you think you have it bad, there is probably someone who would give anything to be in your shoes. You can be grateful for health, a roof over your head, a job, loyal friends and so much more.
Life is a gift. Whether or not you go along with the commercialism of this day, don’t waste a perfectly good opportunity to connect with the people around you. The goal is to make each day count.
It’s easy to neglect or overlook opportunities to show affection or appreciation and let the days pass by. Even if you have to mark it on your calendar, make a daily effort to show the people you love how much you care. Don’t wait on Hallmark to announce a day of love. The best gift could be to make 365 days a year Valentine’s Day.
Copyright ©2010 First Things First
