just a day

So it's Valentine's Day.

This is the day that many singles love to hate,  citing it as a "Hallmark Holiday".
And they're not wrong.
Many a lover has had to face a hard heart if s/he forgot to buy flowers/cards/candy for their amore, just because calendar and commerce dictates it. And let's face it, if you've been blessed to find someone to love, who loves you in return, well then goody for you- every day is Valentine's Day.

Personally, I've never been one for the hype.

But I have discovered a new appreciation of the day.

February 14 is recognized as a day of love. Love is universal. It is not contained to romantic love. Well, yes, I suppose commercially it is. But it shouldn't be. It doesn't have to be.

Love is love. And if we can put a little extra of the good stuff out into the world, then why not celebrate it?

It doesn't have to be directed at a lover. It doesn't have to be delivered to anyone you know.
Give a stranger a valentine just by being nice. Paying for someone's coffee is lovely, but so is helping a person across an icy street. So is a giving a true compliment. Or just making eye contact and smiling.
Every little gesture that makes someone feel good has a beautiful ripple effect. I say this at the risk of sounding like a hippy wearing rose coloured glasses (of which I am neither.. no offence to hippies or anyone who sees the world through a pinkish hue..) But creating the warm and fuzzies on February 14 could radiate into other days on the calendar, other parts of the year. It could spread through your home, your neighbourhood, city, country.
World.

Now I sound like a hippy wearing rose coloured glasses sitting in a field of sunflowers (no offence to hippy's or ombre tints or sunflowers)  But February 14 is a good place to start to give a Valentine to the World.

We can spend the day as if we were in love
And that's not a bad thing.

my valentine to the world would include sprinkles..