| Let's see, February is a month dedicated to Ground | | | | 2. Go to a Nursing Home and visit someone you don't |
| Hog Day, (one wonders why,) President's Day, Ash | | | | know. Bring them a Valentine. You may be the only |
| Wednesday, Fire Safety and Valentines Day; the day | | | | visitor they have received in weeks. Read from a |
| that promotes lovers, hearts, flowers, romantic | | | | book to them or just sit and talk. Being heard is |
| dinners, and sweetheart dances. I am sure everyone | | | | healing for the soul. |
| knows that, especially those who don't have a | | | | 3. Buy a lunch for a homeless person standing on the |
| Valentine anymore, so why bring the subject up? | | | | corner. Just hand it to them and say, "This is for you. |
| Everywhere we look, there are reminders of the day | | | | Enjoy!" |
| of love: love poems, love quotes, romantic ads, and | | | | 4. Sympathize with the check-out clerk that they |
| romantic music. They all remind us of those loving | | | | have to work on such a beautiful day. Tell them their |
| days with our spouse, who is no longer in our space. | | | | smile is beautiful. They may be feeling like an |
| Ads tell us to buy this or that for our loved one. | | | | unrecognized "robot," otherwise. |
| Romantic music spills from the radio, TV, CD's or | | | | 5. Volunteer at your nearby school to help a teacher |
| I-pods. It's enough to make one who is alone, to | | | | with a classroom Valentines Party. You may have to |
| want to leave town and hide in the mountains, camp | | | | be cleared beforehand. |
| out in the woods, where there is no TV reception | | | | 6. Leave a box of chocolates on a porch, ring the bell |
| available and shopping centers are miles away. But | | | | and run like crazy, ha. Hopefully the mystery will set |
| where can one go to hide from his/her own | | | | their minds toguessing who the Secret Valentine is |
| thoughts? | | | | and create some pleasure for them. |
| Occasionally we forget that we are the Masters of | | | | 7. Send a Valentine to a hospitalized Veteran or |
| our own mind. We are in charge of our thoughts and | | | | multiples of veterans, who will most likely be alone on |
| can eliminate those kinds of painful memories. | | | | Valentine's Day. In |
| Remember those experiences that were sweet and | | | | Hampton Roads, Virginia, the address would be: |
| say "Thank You" for having been a part of them. | | | | Hampton VA Medical Center100 Emancipation Drive |
| Change is sometimes a good thing and then again, it | | | | Hampton Va. 23667 |
| brings with it some not so good feelings. Taking | | | | If you are in a different vicinity, go to your telephone |
| control of our emotions is as easy as changing our | | | | book for Veterans Administration, In Virginia, it would |
| thoughts to something or someone other than | | | | be [ Select "Find A Facility." Choose a VA Hospital in |
| ourselves. If we want our life to be different, we | | | | your area, or any hospital for kids, whatever, you |
| must act differently. | | | | choose. Send Valentines. The staff will be sure to |
| As Albert Camus said, "Life is the sum of all your | | | | see that they are delivered to delighted patients. |
| choices." | | | | The experience could give you a sense of joy, |
| SOME CHOICES THAT ARE FREE | | | | mystery and satisfaction in knowing you just brought |
| Perhaps you would like to be a Sweetheart to | | | | a smile to someone that you don't even know, who |
| someone else: | | | | was lonely. Smile to yourself in your knowing. Your |
| 1. Call someone, a neighbor, family member, friend or | | | | Valentine's Day does not have to be a source of |
| a stranger: Wish them a happy Valentines Day or | | | | loneliness. You can make your own day a joyful one. |
| don't even mention the day, just say, "How are | | | | Be your own Valentine! |
| you?" "Can I do anything for you?" or "I was thinking | | | | " We must always change, renew, rejuvenate |
| about you." | | | | ourselves, otherwise, we harden. |