Image via Wikipedia

It’s Valentine’s Day! Give her a fully body wrap hug; give him a long lasting kiss. Maybe flowers, dinner, or wine. Maybe a movie, and of course, chocolate! Take a few moments today to enjoy and savor one another. Sneak in an extra phone call, come home early. Too often we forget these simple pleasures.

We forget that we promised to spend our lives together. We forget, or we think the promise means less somehow. That somehow the bills, the children, the boss, and the job water down our promise of Love. We let common day irritations mute our laughter and numb our souls. So we forget to laugh, forget to smile, forget to be kind. Too often we forget to nurture the Love we promised to protect.

What a horrible shame. For at one time and place you stood beside your lover and envisioned forever, dreamed forever, and planned forever. You know what? Forever isn’t gone; it lives within you. Hard economic times may make it difficult to embrace the holidays, but Valentine’s Day isn’t about chocolate. It’s about reconnecting.

It’s about reconnecting with Love, with the real reason worth living. The children, the job, the bills, the mortgage, the headaches, and the phone calls can all be put on hold. Tonight’s the night to turn off the cell phone and turn off the T.V.; to turn off the incessant noise of what doesn’t matter. Tonight’s a night to cuddle and be together. Candles in or candles out; they’re always a good idea. The trick is to shut off the world and reconnect.

If you can’t go out for a candle lit dinner, light the candles at home. Even simple casseroles taste better when candles are lit. Put the children to bed early and reconnect. You can even snuggle with the children a little bit, but there has to be time for mom and dad alone.

Light the candles and watch them dance in her eyes. Put music on, sing to her softly, or hum as you take her for a swirl around the kitchen or dining room. See where the night takes you.

And tomorrow morning, before you get out of bed to face the world, look into her eyes and see forever again.

Every day should be Valentine’s Day, and if you pay attention to what matters, it can be.