Isn’t Valentine’s Day a day many look forward to and some not so much? There seems to be mixed feelings of love in this month of February. While some are planning the perfect gifts, the perfect date, others are planning their dateless night. Funny memes depict the single person staying home with their pet. But, many can choose to still love the day if they think outside the chocolate box.

There are so many things to love, and it really doesn’t have to be your one and only. There are friendships, pets, your town, your favorite places, your favorite charity. I suppose many people look at only one way to love this day. Really there are many ways, and if you stop to think of what you love and who you love, it can be the best experience!

Social media is one place that is fun to see all the happy valentines shared with beautiful colors to friends and family. Let’s find the joy in others to be our joy. Isn’t that even better? Showing love to others will get, in most cases, love back. Just reach out to your friends and family too and share a sweet message of appreciation for them. After all, it is social media and isn’t that why we’re there, because we love it?

Make this day not only for yourself, but give love to a charity that warms your heart. There are charities that actually have gift cards that you can give to your recipient, and they can choose which charity to give to. Isn’t that a real “feel good” thing to give the gift of love for someone to forward love? How great is that? If you want a place to start, go to this website. https://www.sixdegrees.org/ It was actually started by actor Kevin Bacon. Who doesn’t love bacon? Their core value: Harnessing the kindness that connects us to make the greatest positive impact.

Partner with friends, family and the loves of your life to join a cause. What better way to make Valentine’s Day a day for everyone to LOVE?

It’s not always easy to plan the perfect Valentine’s Day surprise. If you are single are you thinking about engagement rings? If you’re married, is your spouse still romantic or is V-Day just another Hallmark invention to make sales? Maybe you have children that have a Valentine card exchange at their school and you want them to have the coolest V-day box to show off!

Whatever your reason to celebrate the biggest day of “expressions of love” let’s toss some ideas around to help make it not-so mind boggling. The options are overwhelming what possibilities await. There’s candlelight dinner, dancing, movie, horse/buggy ride, flowers, chocolates, gifts of jewelry, cards…oh, there’s so many choices. What does one do?

Well, first of all, you may want to know the person’s preference. Just general conversation about likes and dislikes can eliminate some of the options. Some people, believe it or not, don’t like to be fussed over. Some don’t even like chocolate. Does the person you want to take dancing even know how to dance? So, see? It’s a little helpful to find out what the person you would like to show your romantic side to actually likes.

Children on the other hand love the idea of opening gifts, and being surprised. What’s more fun than finding a cute stuffed animal, some favorite candy and maybe a game they always wanted waiting for them at breakfast? What about the hours of constructing the perfect V-day gift box to take to school to carry the so-carefully-selected cards to hand out to their friends? Shoe boxes were the rave a couple decades ago, but now it’s about who has the wildest constructed characters that take up the whole back seat of the car. But, you do it for them, because that is the greatest form of love from parent to child to let them know you support and appreciate them.

One last thing, have you thought about what you are going to do for yourself? Yes, you! Why not? Buy the shoes; eat the cake…as they say! Do what makes you feel good and when you feel good, you make everyone feel good around you. That is your gift of love to yourself and to those who are in your daily life. Have the best Valentine’s Day yet!

You make sure to buy enough food to feed an army, because you don’t want anyone to be left hungry while you are planning your holiday family meal. There’s going to be a lot left over and if some of those family members or friends aren’t living in your house already, they may appreciate a take-home care package that they can heat up later. Everyone loves leftovers from Thanksgiving, right?

Before the big day, plan to purchase some “throw-away” containers that you don’t mind giving away. Give each guest their own containers to “stuff” as they wish from designated bowls set out after everyone has eaten. Remember to keep what you would like to keep for yourself, because you enjoy having something to re-create the next day with left-over turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, cranberries, sweet potatoes, veggies, and desserts you love!

The Food Network has many talented chefs that lend their ideas for a delicious after Thanksgiving meal you and your guests will be sure to love, so if you go to their website you can copy a couple recipes, put them on cute recipe cards that are hand written or printed and add that to your little gift package. Not only will your guests feel so wonderful with their new recipes they can add to their collection, but you’ve given them their own ideas if they want to start a new tradition of their own.

It’s the little things that warm the hearts of those we love. Share love to them, so they can share love to others.

With the election over and most of the barrage of politics behind us for a while, it’s time to get back to treating each other with love, kindness and respect. The question is why did the presidential race bring out the worst in most? Social media was and is, riddled with unkindness and harsh remarks. It’s sad to see friendships split, families separated and relationships strained because of the strong difference of opinions. I say, it's over…and it’s time to remember that “the greatest of these is love” and we need to put that into practice now and forever forward. We are approaching a day that is set aside for being thankful and grateful for the blessings in our lives, shouldn’t we get our hearts and minds heading in the right direction so that the day truly is one of thanks! Thanksgiving will be followed by Christmas, another day set aside to be thankful for the greatest gift of all and to celebrate friends and family in whatever fashion you choose to celebrate the day. Why not start by choosing a “pay it forward” way of thinking in an area of your life where you can put that into practice several days during the holiday season. I can assure you that if you replace anger and distress with kindness and generosity, you will see this season in a whole new light and in turn, you will choose it for the days that follow. Anger, resentment, fear and distress will make you feel negative, tired, worn out and sad…but changing that mindset will turn your life around!

Please don’t let politics dictate your life now or in the future. Change your mind about the way you think, be kind, pay it forward, speak gently and love loudly…you can be the first link in a chain that changes the way others think!