The Challenge

In case you live in a cave and don’t have a calendar (I have two, thanks to Raylene and Tiffany), February, the month of love, is officially here.

*gasps, coughs, gasps again*

Believe it or not, for all my talk of love over the last couple weeks, I’m not completely obsessed with Valentine’s day. To be honest, I spend most years in the camp of this-is-a-media-hyped-holiday-invented-for-retailers-to-make-money.

*hides behind large item to avoid possible flying objects*

It’s not what you think. I (obviously) believe in love, and I feel that thoughtful gestures like flowers and candy and jewelry are completely romantic. But. Don’t you think it’s sad that so many of us need to have a holiday (or anniversary for a big occasion) to remind us to make those kinds of gestures?

Almost like we need an excuse to tell the important people in our lives that we love them. What’s wrong with us? And really. Do our kids need another excuse to eat candy?

Don’t get me wrong. I know that Valentine’s Day is supposed to be a celebration of love, rather than a reminder that we love people and should give them stuff. But sometimes it feels like February 14th is less about who loves us and why, and more about what someone gave you, and what you gave to them—or to someone else entirely. Doesn’t it? Is it just me? Really?

So, I’m issuing a challenge. Pick a day of the month, then find some way to quietly, sincerely express your love to the important people in your life. Children, spouse, parents, friends—whoever. (More than words, though. I’m talking about gestures.) Mark this day on your calendar. Then flip to March, and mark the same day there. Then April, May, June…you get the idea. And then, when those days come, be sure to follow through.

Maybe, if we get in the habit of regularly expressing our love, we’ll stop needing reminders. Or, I don’t know. Maybe not. It’s just an idea.

So, what do you say? Are you in?