Roses are Red Violets are Blue To readers of my column, You make me happy, and I love you.
February, the shortest month of the year, can also be the coldest for those of us living north of the equator. Since it’s cold outside, let’s do something to warm hearts even though our hands and feet may be chilly!
February 13 – Galentine’s Day – a day to celebrate friends
February 14 – St Valentine’s Day – a celebration of love
February 17 – Random Acts of Kindness Day
Isn’t it great that February holds not just one day of love, but three (plus Family Day as a bonus)!
Some people celebrate Valentine’s Day only as a time to pay tribute to their romantic loved one (romantic cards, champagne, dinner on the town) and so the day before, called Galentine’s Day, is to celebrate the other people you love and like. There is also February 17th designated as Random Acts of Kindness Day to just do something nice for someone else whether you know them or not. Some years, there have been people standing on a downtown street giving out free hugs to an amazing number of people.
My mother taught me that Valentine’s cards were to be sent to both people you loved and liked, but that they were to be sent anonymously. They could also be sent to people that you knew needed a little love in their lives. Sporadically over the years, I have done that, but shhh don’t tell! Some people still wonder who sent them the card, so don’t give away my secret. I’ve been known to walk up to a person’s fridge where the card was stuck and say, “Oh this is pretty, who sent it to you?” And then listen to the person’s guesses about who it could have been.
Sometimes people knew right away it was me. I don’t know how they figured it out as I used cutout words from a magazine and no handwriting at all!
To complement Valentine’s and Galentine’s Days is Random Acts of Kindness Day started in 1995 by a society of the same name. I didn’t know about it until a group of employees from a neighbouring business to where I worked arrived at my office door with flowers and candies for me. “For me?” I asked incredulously. “Yes, you. Thank you for what you do.” It was surprising and heartwarming. Another year, the car in front of me paid for my Starbucks order at the drive-thru.
There are, of course, other ways to show love and kindness in this cold short month. Here are some suggestions:
- Give blood
- Donate to the foodbank
- Donate to your local thrift shop (this one is doing both your closets and you a favour along with the happy recipient)
- Make a batch of cookies and share them with a group of friends
- Take someone to lunch – or make lunch and take it to their house to share
- Write a letter to someone you haven’t seen for a long time and mail it along with a Valentine or hand-drawn heart.
- Give to a local charity or one in another area of the world.
- Support someone or something through a Go Fund Me campaign. https://www.gofundme.com/en-ca
Another one of my favourite ways to celebrate friendship in this chilly month is to have a Valentine’s tea. Pull out your fancy China teacups, your pretty lace tablecloth and buy a bouquet of flowers for your table. I love buying fancy napkins for the table, too. Make up a batch of scones and maybe some tarts and invite several of your favourite people. Treat them like royalty. Let them know you think they are special.
You may be chilly in February but by helping others feel special, I guarantee it will warm your heart!
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Laurie Mueller, M.Ed is retired and living in Victoria with her husband, Helmuth. She recently published The Ultimate Guide on What to Do When Someone You Love Dies, available on Amazon. More about Laurie can be found at www.lauriemconsulting.com or on Facebook.