| Roses, Gifts and Chocolates, Oh My! Valentine’s Day. Breaking hearts and bank accounts since at least the 14th century.Ask 20 people their opinion about this saccharine bonanza of pink and red, chocolate-dipped holiday, and you are likely to get 20 different answers. It was Liz Lemon, the protagonist of “30 Rock,” who observed the word “lovers” really tends to bum people out — “unless it’s between the words ‘meat’ and ‘pizza.’ ” What does Valentine’s Day mean to you? |
| This past year and continuing, has been hard on all of our hearts. We are all anxious and suffering from too much fear and constant bad news.We are living a continuous Monday of “walking on eggshells”, fatigued and overwhelmed in this merry-go-round situation. This pandemic has added layers of sepulchral complexity most of us didn’t see coming, patterns and rhythms upturned, forcing us to become more and more involved and dependent on technology in our sustained isolation. Thus, this Valentine’s Day may possibly be more important than ever – a kind of spiritual WD-40, a reminder to reconnect and be more involved with people, institutions, and interests that matter to us – renewing a flagging sense of solidarity.Why don’ t we use this year’s Valentine’s Day as a day off from the negativity, step up to the charitable plate and give back, even a little. “V” is for Volunteering Love is a verb, an action word. There is nothing more powerful than the act of love, not only in the romantic sense, but in the truest sense of the word. It is in the dedication of service, with a heart of compassion, that true power is harnessed, and there are so many organizations and people that could use our help, especially now. Our most valuable currency is being useful. We can change our thinking about Valentine’s Day as an opportunity – an opportunity to stop for a moment, take a breath and think about the people who share our lives and those who may need our assistance or support. Focus on giving over getting. We don’t have to be Mother Teresa or the Dalai Lama, undertake some grand act or give a large monetary gift. Giving can be very simple, like start a walking group for people to connect and exercise, drive seniors to medical appointments, leave a pie on your neighbour’s porch, or deeply listen to someone who is having a tough time.That is good enough. And most importantly, to engage without expectation of reciprocation. We all have the power. Starting with ourself and then sharing and extending it to others. Enough ripples create a wave. There is an old saying that goes: If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap. If you want happiness for a day, go fishing. If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody. Volunteer in a way that honours you, picking something that aligns with your heart, head and hands, as well as being realistic to your lifestyle. For me, I love to decorate for special events, and one organization that is dear to my heart is CADS – Calgary Adaptive Snowsports Association, a volunteer based charitable organization that makes skiing and snowboarding accessible to individuals with disabilities. https://youtu.be/dA8Uvsj26cc Until Covid made it impossible to hold the fundraiser, I have been honoured to decorate for their galas, revelling in every minute…proving yet once again that it is always more pleasurable giving than receiving. |
| Celebrate it every day. Ultimately, how we choose to celebrate Valentine’s Day is up to us. But giving something of ourselves, whether it be time, money or talent, always has a positive effect on our personal feeling of belonging, of community, and our sense of self-worth. It’s only one day in the year, but there are 364 other Un-Valentine Days to be of service to celebrate the love and relationships in our lives. From your not-so secret admirer, thank you CADS. |
Thanks so much for the amazing decor we have enjoyed in galas-past!