Well, we’re in the midst of February… which means all things Valentine’s Day. At Illuminating Souls, we love celebrating a day devoted to LOVE.
It’s fascinating to me that this holiday has taken on new meaning for me over the last few years. For most of my adult life, this was a holiday that I would have rather slept through. Surrounded by romance that did not seem to knock on my door, it served as a reminder that I was not yet someone’s Valentine.
As a child, Valentine’s meant picking out a box of cards — usually 50 in a box… usually with Scooby Doo or Speed Racer saying “You’re the Best!” And those awful candy hearts with words printed on them. I remember what a big deal it was to decide which classmate got which Valentine because it was always an assorted box. There were always one or two jumbo sized cards… and then mediums ones… and then the dreaded small cards. The cards were assigned to classmates based upon the hierarchy of the popularity index. Most popular girls got the biggest one. The people I didn’t like got the small ones.
When the big day arrived, we all decorated shoe boxes with hearts and then placed them upon our desks at school. When the party began, we would all go around and place Valentine’s Day cards in each classmate’s box.
My box was usually filled with one or two medium-sized cards and small ones… never the big ones. But I don’t quite remember it bothering me because this was a holiday that came with candy, cupcakes and Hawaiian Punch. And where there was sugar, there was comfort (a philosophy that is still very much with me today).
Now that I’m all grown up and making my own rules, I’ve reclaimed Valentine’s Day as a day for celebrating juicy joyful love. This year marks the second year in a row that I’ll be facilitating a Beloved Love workshop. This year it is at the Bodhi Tree Annex. My husband and I talk about making this an annual tradition so that people who want to get loved up on Valentine’s Day will have a welcoming place to join in the celebration.
This year let Valentine’s Day be about setting the intention to receive more loving into your life. Love can come from so many sources. The angels will help us if we but ask.
So here’s wishing you LOADS of love, the biggest card in the box and really good chocolate.