Valentine’s Day
It’s Valentine’s Day and I feel I should post something. This comes after hours of contemplating how there’s no value in doing anything strictly out of obligation. That being said, somehow I still feel obligated to post something.
I’ve been thinking about the significance of the major symbol of this holiday, the HEART. Scientifically, the heart is the single, solitary thing responsible for keeping our bodies alive. The machine that pumps blood through our veins. The muscle that, when revived after it collapses, sends oxygen to our brain and shouts, Breathe! Heart “language” is used throughout our culture on a daily basis. We speak of heartfelt wishes, a heartwarming story, bless her heart, having a broken heart, heart skipping a beat, a heart that’s filled with joy, giving your heart to something, listening to your heart, and, my personal favorite, following your heart. The list goes on. In my upcoming novel, a contemporary women’s fiction romance (more updates soon on the release date!), you’ll find many references to the heart. There are moments when the main character struggles to listen to her heart, believe in her heart, feels her lover’s heart beating when he gently takes her hand and places it against his chest, and, at another time, blames her heart for the mess she finds herself in.
In our heart is where we feel the things that seem to matter the most to us. I’m reminded of an exercise I ran across that’s supposed to help when having to make a difficult, life altering, decision. It involves lying or sitting in a relaxed position, closing your eyes, breathing deeply, focusing on the dilemma, then allowing yourself to feel the dilemma in your core, the center of your body, instead of thinking about it in your head. The idea is that, after a few minutes, what you feel you should do, even though it may not align with what you think you should do, will be the best decision.
We live in a high-tech society where electronic communication has become more the norm than verbal. Yet even those little moving bubbles that appear on our smartphones while the other person is typing their response, leave us feeling something—whether it’s joy, excitement, or mere anticipation. The absence of those moving bubbles—no response—can leave us feeling empty, even angry, depending on the conversation. (Let’s face it, it doesn’t always feel tremendous to have the last word.)
Is it any wonder that the heart, our center, the thing that drives us, fuels us—physically and emotionally—has earned such special attention? Today, more than any other day, it is a symbol of love. But as much as we view Valentine’s Day as the day to be with, and/or think of, who we love, it can also be a day to be with, and/or think of, what we love. That could be something as simple as your favorite tea, sending its pleasant aroma in a cloud of steam just under your nose, or as major as packing your belongings and moving to that place you’ve always wanted to live. If you believe the list of things you love is too short or too long to think about, I’ll simplify. Start with your love of you—the person who deserves your love most of all.
WPB