Since tomorrow is Valentine’s Day, I thought it might be nice to take a break from our normal and various work-related topics and talk about something that applies to every single one of us. Love. We are all alike in that each and every one of us wants love in our lives.
That said, here’s wishing you and your loved ones a joyful, loving and hope-filled day.
The history of Valentine’s Day is not certain. There are several great stories of love, heroism and romance connected with the celebration. St. Valentine’s Day, as we know it, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman traditions. Regardless of how it started, I see Valentine’s Day as an ideal time to touch base with the people who influence our lives in so many great and countless ways.
I’m talking about more than a box of chocolates here, folks.
I’ve come to realize that Valentine’s Day, although it comes once a year, involves three things that are important all year long. Family, Fun and Faith. These three elements happen also to be key to the 7 F’s of True Success model that I focus on as a business coach. It’s part of the whole-life approach that I coach each day, and it’s the foundation of my two latest books.
For this reason, this bigger picture, I look at Valentine’s Day as a reminder to be loving and kind. The traditional expressions of love and affection (a special dinner, flowers, sweet cards, sweeter chocolates, etc.) are great. But I think a deeper, more meaningful expression comes from making time for someone. It’s about investing in those you love. If my wife makes me soup when I’m sick, that’s love. If a friend takes the time to commiserate about a bad day at work, that’s huge. It means a lot to me when one of the boys in my Scout troop asks my opinion about something. When someone you work with takes the time to tell you that you make a difference in their life or organization, that’s great. And when something finally goes well after what seems like a very long struggle, I really, truly love when I can say, “Thank you, Lord. I appreciate not only the outcome, but the journey as well.”
CORSINI’S POINT
So, take time to let the people you love know that you love them. Make these opportunities happen every day. It’s not hard. When all is said and done, what matters most in this life is that we have truly loved our families and friends and that they have loved us in return.
So happy Valentine’s Day! Now go make some meaningful connections with those you love. Celebrate Valentine’s Day with a thoughtful email, voice mail or text. Send an e-card, hand deliver a Hallmark card. Go on and give that box of chocolates! Just make sure the recipient really, truly knows how you feel. Then keep up the good work with simple, yet thoughtful, gestures each day. Enjoy that Valentine’s Day feeling all year long.
QUOTE
“Let the beauty we love be what we do. There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground.”
— Rumi