Pink. Red hearts. Doilies. Sweetness. Candy. Holding hands.
This is the day we Americans set aside to remember sweet
relationships with others, presumably significant others. When we were kids,
however, we sent valentines to mothers, fathers, lady neighbors, kind persons
at church, and every kid in our classroom!
So how is this about significant others?
So how is this about significant others?
Rather it be for all others, so our
relationships are nurtured well throughout our lives.
If we do the right thing with those special to us, the
significant others will come along quite nicely, thank you!
Valentines Day. A day in February. Just one day. But what do
we do with the other 364 days of the year?
Perhaps this quote helps:
“Before
you speak, Think.
T – is it true?
H – is it helpful?
I – is it inspiring?
N – is it necessary?
K – is it kind?
~Anonymous
Interesting terms, don’t you think? Reconsider the Indian 10
Commandments we wrote about on Tuesday.
The terms above parallel the commandment terms closely! True, helpful, inspiring, necessary and
kind. The THINK of life. Not a bad quote
to use as a talisman throughout all of our days on earth.
We are taught as little ones to think critically. We often
take that to mean defensively. But there is little distance between defense and
offense. Most likely we slip into the
offensive quickly without actually realizing it.
Another anonymous quote:
“Our days are happier when we
give people a bit of our heart rather than a piece of our mind.”
That should go without saying but then, we need reminders,
don’t we? Perhaps that is why President Obama offered these words in his 2014
State of the Union Address:
“We believe in the inherent
dignity and equality of every human being, regardless of race, religion, creed
or sexual orientation.”
He did not say he believes this, he state ‘we’ believe this.
It is part of the American creed itself. Our Constitution states ‘inalienable
rights’ and ‘the pursuit of happiness’ and then eventually goes on to include
the Bill of Rights. We believe in the equality of each other in this land of
ours. It is not a variable or something to be re-argued. It is part and parcel
of who we are as a people, a society, and a nation.
So, we have work to do. We need to share our hearts with
others, not pieces of our opinion, our mind, our differing beliefs. Let us
first learn to live together peacefully. Cooperation and collaboration build
good things. But first we have to have the respect and peace among us to do
that work.
If you find that hard to do – liberals and conservatives,
for example – think about the kagillion things we agree on! Much more than what we disagree on!
Pete Seeger (1919 – 2014) said this about the core of all
music:
“Songs are funny things. They can
slip across borders. Proliferate in prisons. Penetrate hard shells. I always
believed that the right song at the right moment could change history.”
Songs, music, and harmonious sounds have an effect on us. We
feel rather than think about these experiences. We instantly shift from anger
to peace, from struggle to serenity…in an instant. Feeling, not thinking.
Perhaps the most effective Valentine ‘Card’ is a song of
love and caring? Perhaps it is a song of trying and stretching to be the best
you can be for the other person’s benefit? Whatever works, try it. As another
unknown author has stated:
“If
you don’t fit in, then you’re probably doing the right thing.”
Stretching, trying what we think is right but is
uncomfortably new to us, is most likely the right thing anyway. It is part of
the “think” reminder at the beginning of this blog. Be true and think. Care for
all those around you.
May this be a memorable Valentines Day each and every day of
the year!
February 14, 2014
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