I am enjoying the feedback I am getting regarding Valentine’s Day. A common thread, that I am seeing, is that love is shared and expressed more on a day to day basis, than just on a once-a-year holiday.
Expressing love to our significant others, our family, our friends and our animals seems to come pretty easy for many of us. Love, after-all, IS the answer. We even extend a loving heart to far-away strangers (easily seen in the relief help we give to those in a crisis situation, such as the people of Haiti) but sometimes loving ourselves is hardest of all.
Sometimes, in learning to love ourselves, we can give the greatest love of all to those around us. As I sat on my patio yesterday, after a love-ly birthday lunch with my very special friend, Rita, I found myself thinking about how we show our love to others. Sometimes we think we are doing everything possible to show our love but then I wonder. As I pampered my feet with a home pedicure and turned my toenails Valentine’s Day red, thoughts started to drift to people in my life that I love dearlyand I wonder if loving ourselves is perhaps, the hardest love of all. (As a side note, it was just then that Mitch walked in with shrimp to make for dinner and a beautiful bouquet of red roses and babies breath. ) The flowers are beautiful, but the better gift was when he went to the track for the daily walk/run he is sticking to, since the new year!!!
If we are feeding our bodies sugars, fats, chemicals and processed foods we KNOW to be unhealthy and even shorten our lifespan are we living with love? If we continue to poison our bodies by cigarette smoking, too much alcohol and/or drugs or binge eating are we really living in the loving way we think? If we are living in denial about the sedentary life we are leading, yet profess to do everything and anything for the people we love, are we?
Why is it so hard to embrace a healthy lifestyle? This morning I have no answers, just questions. To0 many people can find time, energy and motivation to do everything for everyone else, but when it comes to themselves they fall short.
This Valentine’s Day weekend, I hope you will ask yourselves some questions and peek into corners of your lives that may require some extra love and attention. I know I am. Only by being the best you, can you really give your loved ones the greatest gifts of all. Let’s all work on treating our bodies like the temples of love they are meant to be. If you can’t do it for you, do it for those that you love. It’s a gift that keeps on giving.
<3
I totally agree with you that loving oneself is extremely important. There are so many occasions when I will put the best interest of others before my best interest……..but you know what?? In the end I really do feel better. I do receive so much joy and satisfaction by loving others every day. So…to everyone out there…….love yourself…..love others and let us all be grateful for everything that we have. As John Lennon said……..”Love is all we need….”
By the way………I just love your little heart symbol!!! You are just THE BEST!!! <3 to you!!!!!
You certainly warmed up the class this morning………and very quickly. It was a great workout!!!
Brad had V-Day flowers delivered to the gym for me this morning. How sweet is that?
It’s funny – I spend a lot of time without Brad. We have very different interests and most evenings will find us at opposite ends of the county. Brad at Markham Park flying RC planes and me in Tamarac at the gym.
Since becoming “empty nesters” we’ve both concentrated on ourselves more, but somehow that translates to the 2 of us being closer then ever. I think because we are each happier with our selves it’s easier and more natural to be happier with each other.
Class was great (as usual) this morning Bonni. I love the whole interval thing. Thanks!