Valentine’s Day is always a tough one. Everywhere I look I see hearts, flowers, and diamonds. People are smiling and holding hands, and here I sit trying to remember what it felt like to be kissed. When I realized what I was doing, I decided I had better shift my focus, so I started remembering the Valentines of days past.
I never wanted to go out for dinner on Valentine’s Day because I always imagined it would be crowded, but on our first Valentine’s, Ron showed up and wanted to take me out to dinner. We walked to one of our favorite places, and we happened to be the first ones there so not having reservations was not a problem. And he brought me a beautiful necklace that had two hearts, overlapping. One was silver and the other gold. A perfect representation of us. We had a wonderful evening with dessert back at my place after dinner.
Thinking about that sweet experience, I started to recall things I was grateful about both Ron and Jacques. And I started writing them down. I always write what I am grateful for every day, but this was different. I intentionally wrote about the sweet romantic things my husbands did that remind me of how very much they loved me. I wrote, and wrote, and wrote.
I recalled how when Jacques and I got married, I made my dress and he didn’t get to see it before the wedding. We got married at his house. Everyone was gathered in the living room, and he came to the bedroom to get me when it was time to start the wedding. He was so entranced by the dress, that he came in to look at it and all the little details till the minister came to get us, and everyone laughed.
One year I purchased a little black journal with red hearts on it for Ron. And I filled it up with 100 examples of one thing on each page that was a reason I loved him and was grateful for him. Once I started writing it, I had no problem filling up the book. I still have that book and can open it every once in a while, when I am missing him.
Once I started writing just beautiful things about my loves and wonderful experiences we had, I couldn’t help but smile. This Valentine’s Day try making a list of things you are grateful about for about your loved one. It doesn’t have to be a husband. Write about your mother, your son, you’re your friend, your special pet: anyone you miss. Smile as you write and feel the comforting presence of their love.
Happy Valentine’s Day.
