In honor of Valentine’s Day, I wanted to mention how love can be shown in many ways. Regardless of whether we have a sweetheart or not, Valentine’s Day is a day to remind others that we love them.
- Say “I love you” to friends and family.
- Take note that people feel love in different ways. Find out how someone best feels love and show them in the language they understand. Perhaps it’s a hug or a back rub. Perhaps it’s a gift of some sort – even something as simple as a single flower or a handmade note card. Maybe it is a promise to go for a picnic or a hike with them – even a picnic in the living room if the weather is bad! Maybe it’s washing the car, doing the dishes or hanging a picture on the wall. Perhaps it is telling someone how valuable they are to you or telling them that you’ll always be there for them.
By showing love to others, we are not only improving their lives, but also our own. We are reminding ourselves that we live in community and that we need other people. We are reminding ourselves that just as they are valuable to us, we are valuable to them. Who knows: we may even encourage them to show more love to us!
One more note: once we realize that other people love us, one of the greatest ways to show them love is to take care of ourselves. If we (especially us moms) put our own needs on hold, eventually our health will deteriorate and we’ll no longer be able to take care of others and love them the way we want to and they need us to.
Make a point to do something healthy today, this week, this month and this year! Your loved ones will thank you!