Yesterday was Valentine’s Day. I had taken a hiatus from my blog, “Think Globally, Act Locally” and have decided to give it another shot. In honor of February and Valentine’s Day, I will focus on love. For years, I have focused on the commercialized version of Valentine’s Day. As I reflected on St. Valentine and my Faith Fit Daily Inspiration, I thought what if Valentine’s Day isn’t about romance, chocolates, flowers, and the fancy restaurant? What if it’s not just for couples but love for everyone? For years, I felt like it was a day that you show love for your significant other and you do that by making a reservation at a nice restaurant and showing up with a dozen overpriced roses.

But what if Valentine’s Day is meant to show love not just among couples but to everyone. Stories vary about St. Valentine. According to History.com, the story of Valentine belongs to a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. Another legend contends that an imprisoned Valentine sent the first “valentine” greeting himself after he fell in love with a young girl – possibly his jailor’s daughter – who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter signed “From your Valentine.”

Many of us are in our own prisons. Some of us are imprisoned by our own addictions, suffer from depression, abuse, or past traumas. But what if despite our lonely and dark places, we can reach out and show love to others as St. Valentine once did? What if we could stand up for what’s right and go against the norms and show justice and love to others? What if we could use not only this one day but this month or the rest of the year to show love to others?

What if instead of buying that heart-shaped box of chocolates, we opt for fair trade chocolate instead? Thus, showing our love to our brothers and sisters abroad to ensure they are paid fair wages, and we are not contributing to the exploitation of young children on the Ivory Coast, who are taken from their parents and devoid of love. Could we show love by donating to a worthy cause in the name of a loved one to help those less fortunate than ourselves? These are a couple examples of how we can take action globally.

What can we do locally? Instead of keeping our windows rolled up and ignoring the homeless person on the side of the road or on the street as we walk by. Could we keep some peanut butter crackers or granola bars on hand to give to our fellow brothers as an act of love? I have never had one person not express gratitude for this small token of love. Their response is always “thank you” while others respond, “bless you” and it always warms my heart. How can you show love to someone in your community? Whether it’s assisting an elderly neighbor, supporting a local charity, or even saying a kind word to someone, these are just a few examples of how you can show love locally.

Finally, how can you show love to yourself? Too often we are so busy running around and checking things off our to-do list, we don’t take time for self-care and self-love. Are we taking time to exercise, meditate, pray, or do something we enjoy doing like reading a book or watching a favorite TV show? We need to rest and re-charge. Otherwise, we have nothing left to give others.

For me, I was so busy checking emails, listening to my next podcast, or reading the next self-help book, I wasn’t taking the time to listen to what God was trying to tell me. I was praying, but it was a one-sided conversation because I would run out of time to listen. I read something that stated the enemy will make you so busy that you will miss what God has in store for you. So, despite feeling the beckoning of my next podcast, emails, or many books I wanted to read, I decided to be still and sit with God. It took three attempts because it’s hard for me to quiet my mind, but I listened to the voice that said, “be still and know that I am God.”

I set my timer for 5 min. and told myself that I would just listen. It was hard, but I focused on my breath and then my inner voice spoke to me. It was saying Be Still and Know that I am God (Trust in Me); find Joy in the little Things; and finally, the voice asked, “why do you let others steal your peace?” Then my timer went off, and I was filled with peace and clarity.

So, my challenge for you this month, is to continue the St. Valentine’s tradition of showing love. Do an act of love on a global level, a local level and for yourself. I pray this may help you find peace, love and joy and bring it others. Because while we need to love others, we must remember to take time to love ourselves as well. I love you all my friends. XOXO