Won’t you join me for a day of loving kindness this Valentine’s Day?
We are quickly approaching Valentine’s Day…the day of love, all pink and red, cupids and hearts, chocolates and flowers…a Hallmark delight.
Over the years, I have acknowledged Valentine’s Day on this blog with posts about self-care, heart health, and love stories. As I pondered what I wanted to do this year, I decided to take a more global approach to love. Perhaps you’d like to join me.
What does a day of loving kindness look like?
I anticipate my Valentine’s Day of loving kindness will be extended to all beings: myself, my loved ones, strangers, and even those people who get on my nerves a little. If you’d like to join me, this is what it looks like.
Love yourself
Start the day by doing something you enjoy, whatever that may be. Perhaps you want to sleep in, have something special for breakfast, read a book, or go on an adventure…whatever calls to you. And most important, make a conscious effort to speak kindly to yourself all day. Speak to yourself as you would speak to a dear friend.
Love for family or friends
Okay, this one is probably the easiest of all. Show some love for a person (or persons) that you care about. This may be a simple hug, a card or love note, or a more elaborate gift or date night. It also could be a phone call or a text to someone far away. Just express your love in any way that feels right to you.
Kindness to strangers
Make it a point to be kind to everyone you come in contact with during the day. For example: Compliment a stranger. Be extra generous with your tips. Commit an anonymous act of kindness, such as paying someone else’s tab. Practice conscious kindness.
Grace for those who annoy or upset you
If you have it in you, Valentine’s Day would be a great day to forgive someone. (This gesture counts as self-love as well, since forgiveness benefits you more than anyone.) If that’s too much to ask right now, perhaps try being extra patient with someone you care for, but find annoying at times. Or just give that lousy driver who pulls out in front of you the benefit of the doubt and wish them well. Assume that they are responding to an emergency or dealing with something huge, and say aloud, “May you be safe. May you be happy.”
Loving kindness for all beings
And finally, if you are the mediating type, perhaps start the day’s meditation with a wish for loving kindness:
May all beings be safe.
May all beings know happiness.
May all beings be as healthy as possible.
May all beings feel at ease.
Of course, we know that just wishing it will not make it so, but you might be surprised at the feelings of goodwill that this kind of meditation can provide, and just imagine the positive energy we could generate if we all wished each other safety, happiness, health, and peace this Valentine’s Day.
Your turn
- Do you celebrate Valentine’s Day? If so, how?
- What is your ideal expression of love, to give or to receive?
- What else is on your mind? Anything at all; I just love to hear from you.
Image by Jill Wellington from Pixabay
Valentine’s Day has never been a huge celebration at my house, but still a little special. Sometimes a card, candy or flowers are exchanged. When my kids were young I would make heart shaped cupcakes and often give them a book.
I am all in on joining you for your loving kindness day! Thanks for the idea! 💘😘
We don’t make a big deal of Valentine’s Day either, Cindy. It’s mostly an excuse to change up the colors on our outdoor lights and maybe get something fun on my nails. Like you, I used to celebrate more when the kids were young.
Hi Christie – I like this idea of finding an alternate meaning for Valentines Day – keeping the love, but extending it further into kindness to others. I’ll definitely be keeping it in mind next week because we don’t do the lovey dovey V Day stuff – I’ll have to put it in my calendar to remind me!
We don’t do much for Valentine’s Day either, Leanne. I do like to use the day as kind of a reminder to focus on loving kindness. I’m pleased to have you join me in that effort.
I am not a fan of highlighting love on one day but I admit social media and the shops here in Australia are full of the Valentine’s Day “stuff”. I actually do loving kindness from time to time and found it helped me get through some rough patches in 2016. I will remember this on 14 February.
Take care,
Denyse.
I agree, Denyse, that love should be expressed every day, not just on one special day. And like so many holidays, this one seems to be intent on getting us to spend money. Instead, I like to use Valentine’s Day as an opportunity to be more mindful of my loving kindness practices.
I love your alternate ways of celebrating Valentine’s Day. As a couple we don’t celebrate it. We prefer to have spontaneous celebrations when the mood hits us rather than a compulsory day. This year, however, I do have a plan for Valentine’s Day. I will be in in hospital having dental surgery. Nothing serious .
We feel the same way, Jenn, about celebrating when the mood strikes. We don’t plan any big events or gifts centered on Valentine’s Day. That said, I am using the holiday as an opportunity to be more mindful about expressing my love. Good luck with your dental surgery!
Beautiful post, Christie and for me I think your point about loving ourselves should be number one. Once we find that love of self we can achieve so much. We feel better about ourselves and are more ready to let the love and kindness flow to others.
I completely agree, Sue. Loving ourselves has to come first. Everything else will follow.
This is such a lovely post! I love your take on ways to celebrate and feel the love on the day although I think these are tips that we can use every day because if there’s one thing the world needs now, it’s more love! Our wedding anniversary is on the 10th so we usually do something special then. This Valentine’s Day, I’ll actually be away on a girls trip so we’ll be celebrating galentine’s and our treasured friendships!
Yes, Sammie, love for ourselves and others should be a priority every day. Happy anniversary to you, and enjoy your girls trip. My sisters and I go on a little getaway once a year, and it’s one of my favorite times.
Do you celebrate Valentine’s Day? If so, how? We usually manage to acknowledge the day, maybe buy some candy, no cards or gifts, sometimes a bouquet of flowers. Holidays are great but we are low-key people, I guess.
What is your ideal expression of love, to give or to receive? Information is my love language! Or a glass of chilled white wine is also an acceptable expression of love.
We are pretty low-key about most holidays too, Ally. I was intrigued to learn that information is your love language. I can see that now, but hadn’t really thought about providing information as an expression of love before. Interesting. I’m with you on the chilled white wine!
Hi Christie, I love your ways to celebrate Valentine’s day. I don’t celebrate V-day, however, this weekend I celebrate Lunar New Year with my family and next weekend I have plans to get together with family and friends to enjoy Family Day holiday in my province. #WWWhimsy
Those sound like wonderful celebrations, Natalie. Enjoy!
Hi Christie, this is a great idea, many thanks for sharing. We’ve never celebrated Valentine’s Day but I like the idea of being extra kind and loving to others. This year I’ll be with my youngest daughter helping her out as my grandson is due for surgery the day before, I’ll be sharing the love!!
Wishing all the best for your grandson, Debbie. Enjoy your family time!
Hi Christie, we don’t really do the Valentine’s Day thing but I love your take on it very much. What a beautiful post! Thanks for linking up with #WWWhimsy – I’ll be taking your ideas on board this Valentines Day for sure! xo
Thank you, Min. We don’t typically celebrate Valentine’s Day either, but any excuse to spread loving kindness, huh? Wishing you and your family all the best. Take care.
Christie,
Great ideas on how to celebrate a day of Love! David and I celebrate Valentine’s Day every year because we got married on it — coming up to 27 years now! We usually go out for a nice romantic dinner. This year, we’ll probably stay in (finances are tight) but I’ll make a nice dinner for the family and I’m thinking cupcakes with heart-shaped sprinkles this year, too! Plus, Fat Tuesday is the day before, so we may take Ry out for lunch to celebrate that. And Lauren wants to take us out to see the new Argyle movie this weekend! We rarely go to the movies anymore, so that is a huge treat! Plus, Sunday is the Super Bowl! So we’re celebrating a lot of things coming up this week! Woo Hoo! Have a Happy Valentine’s Day, Christie! Mona
How fun, Mona, to celebrate a combined anniversary and Valentine’s Day. I bet you never forget your anniversary! And congratulations on 27 years. Larry and I just hit 25 last month. It sounds like you have all kinds of celebrating to do over the next week. Have so much fun!
I love this post. As a toddler, my eldest called it Loving Day because her day care celebrated it. I’ve always thought of it as that ever since. The kids get chocolate hearts and my husband and I either go out for dinner or have a special dinner at home. This year we aren’t spending money as we have booked a very expensive over the top once in a life time experience (but it was $100 more to do it on Valentine’s day so we are doing it next week) #WWWhimsy
Loving Day is perfect, Lydia. I can’t wait to hear about your over-the-top, once-in-a-lifetime experience. I am definitely intrigued. Enjoy!