VALENTINE'S DAY ALL YEAR LONG

After the Thanksgiving and Christmas season, January can be rather dull. The weather outside is cold and the daylight hours are short. The landscape is covered with snow or dull brown. Valentine's Day is a welcome event in February.

The store shelves are stocked with Christmas items months before the big day. Right after Christmas, red hearts and stuffed animals appear in bright shades of red and pink to add color to our lives, a welcome sight.

Growing up, I loved Valentine's Day. Looking forward to a day filled with romance and love was a very positive note. Exchanging dumb Valentine's Day cards with classmates kept the day interesting. Who would give me a card? Who would I share a card with? Most of the time everyone I knew received a card. Those little packages of cards weren't expensive!

Over the years, my view of Valentine's Day has changed. Yes, I love to see the Valentine gifts on the shelves of the local stores and I love the fun of the day, but is that all there is? No. Valentine's Day should be scheduled throughout the year!

After thirty six years of marriage, I believe that showing appreciation and love to one's spouse needs to happen all year long! Isn't that what keeps a marriage together through the struggles of life.? We need to hear terms of endearment and be appreciated and affirmed throughout the year! My husband is much better at demonstrating love than I am. It's not about spending a lot of money, but instead finding little ways throughout the year to show you are thinking of the other person. A thoughtful gesture goes a long way in a marriage!

In addition, showing appreciation to others in your family and circle of friends is important. Extend the appreciation to those you work around and even to those whom you see regularly behind the counter in your local store. Letting them know how important they are to you builds relationship. It can make the difference in an individual's outlook on life. It can change their day and make them feel good about themselves and what they are doing.

My challenge to you today is to thank, praise, or encourage someone TODAY! Use a kind word, buy a card or share a smile. MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF OTHERS!