Show Some Love....Today and Every Day!

With Valentine's Day tomorrow, there seems to be a sea of pink and red, candy, balloons, flowers, and heart-filled items everywhere I go. And while I’m not the biggest fan of the commercialism surrounding Valentine’s Day, I am a HUGE fan of a day dedicated to celebrating and demonstrating love.

I'm not talking about just the 'romance' feeling of being in love. I mean the deep feeling of connection and a sense belonging that we feel when we are in relationship with another human being - whether that be a partner, friend, family member or even ourselves.

Love has many physical, emotional and spiritual benefits and makes a huge impact on the world and those around us. Love brings joy and happiness. Love eradicates fear and brings us back to who we are. It’s not all just pie in the sky, feel-good stuff either. When we feel loved and share love, it lowers stress levels, decreases depression and anxiety and can even reduce blood pressure. It enables us to live happier, healthier lives with greater confidence and a sense of peace.

As you make plans to acknowledge and show love to others in your life, it’s equally, if not more important, to feel and show love for yourself. After all, if you cannot feel love, compassion, empathy for yourself, you cannot fully express or accept it from others.

One of the first steps in loving yourself is to know and appreciate who you are. That's why I've pulled one of my favorite articles out of the archives to share. It’s on one of the topics I’m most passionate about – being true to yourself. Over the years, I've read and immersed myself in many incredible books, courses, programs, and words of advice on living a life you love, and I always come back to the conclusion that one of the fastest ways to get there is to be true to you.

Check out the article here.

And as we celebrate this day dedicated to love, let’s all make a little extra effort to show and spread some of that love….today, tomorrow and every day...to yourself and to others. It doesn’t have to be a box of candy, expensive jewelry, a dozen roses or a grand gesture. For yourself, showing love can mean a little self-care, compassion, acknowledgment of your unique gifts and recognition of your successes, or even just a moment of quiet and reflection. Show it to others through a hug, a note, an act of service, a listening ear, quality time, words of support or encouragement, a compliment, a demonstration of your appreciation or gratitude, or even a simple smile.

Wishing you a beautiful week filled with love,
Tracy

P.S. If you’re interested in the origin of Valentine’s Day, check out this video from History.com for the origins of Valentines Day and some very interesting statistics.

P.P.S.I love this Marianne Williamson quote from her book, A Return to Love. I hope you love it too.

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?...Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do…And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”