February is the month of love. It serves as a beautiful reminder that love truly makes the world go round – the experience of living in this world is undoubtedly more pleasant when we treat each other with kindness and remember to act with love at the center of it all at all times. If we do it right, we will remember to keep this in mind all year long, way past the 14th of February.
During this month, the world around us is decorated with pink hearts and red roses. We begin to hear love songs playing everywhere we go over and over again. Our mouths salivate waiting to consume all the Valentine’s Day chocolate we possibly can. All the stores are stocked to the brim with heart-themed items, we constantly see the Valentine’s Day commercials encouraging us to make sure to get that perfect romantic gift for that special someone, and all the local restaurants are waiting to be filled on that 14th of the month with couples looking to share a special meal and thus a special moment together. While all these things are incredibly special, we must not get so caught up in the superficiality of the holiday that is bound up with all the material gifts and special events that we forget to practice the essence of the holiday which, at the end of the day, is just making sure to love honestly and without boundaries.
Above all, the month of love gives us an opportunity to celebrate all the relationships in our lives and to remember to foster them all year long. While Valentine’s Day is centered primarily around romantic love, it can also serve as a great opportunity to show love to all those around us. It is not just about sweethearts, love poems, and romantic gestures (although these are without a doubt wonderful). Everyone loves to feel special, especially on a holiday such as this one, and Valentine’s Day is a perfect opportunity to remind our families and our friends how special they are to us and to the world around them.
Additionally, whether or not you have a special partner in your life, Valentine’s Day is also a great reminder to be loving towards yourself. Self-love requires that we make our relationship with ourselves as important as we make our relationship with others. It requires that we take care of ourselves in mind, body, and spirit. Making sure our loved ones feel loved goes beyond just making sure to get them the perfect gift for them on Valentine’s Day – it requires that we listen to them, that we are present for them, that we encourage them, and that we accept them and care for them just the way that they are all year round. Once our most intimate relationships are fostered and cared for and watered consistently with love in order to grow, we will be able to go out to the world and spread love and kindness to others as well and ultimately make the world a more lively and wonderful place for all.
