Happy Valentine's Day! I think rather than focusing on romantic love, it would be a better, more inclusive celebration to think about love of all kinds--it's around us whether in our families, friendships, our faithful four-footed companions, our activities, our communities, in nature.
I bought that sterling silver heart necklace years ago on a Valentine's Day when I was feeling sad and left out of the whole romantic side. I was in university. (That is a long time ago.) But do you know what? I love that necklace and still wear it. Giving a gift to ourselves makes a lot of sense.
My Christmas cactus has a sense of celebration albeit the wrong one. It is exuberantly celebrating Valentine's Day today. I like a free spirit.
Last year, one side of the plant bloomed on Valentine's Day and the other side on Easter. :)
Giving ourselves a gift doesn't need to be material. It can be as simple as listening to our heart. For a long time I followed my head with my career in communications. Then I decided to listen to my heart and made the scary decision to leave my secure, well-paying job and launch my card company many years ago. Another phase of my heart was the decision to devote several years to being a stay-at-home mom. And these past two years when I have refocused on my art career have been another very important phase of honouring my heart. It's not always easy. I'll admit that. Each phase (head and heart) has had its difficulties but I think that when I have listened to my heart, things have balanced out better. I tend to be happier. Maybe because I am being truer to myself.
The beautiful letterpress print from Heartfish Press that I bought myself just before I went back to painting full-time. It now hangs on my studio wall just beside my painting table.
I saw a video today. It is a talk given by the late British philosopher Alan Watts on choosing our path. I think it is worth watching by young and old--whether at the beginning of your own path or somewhere along its winding trail. I could send you all roses and chocolates and say 'I love you' but a better gift from me to you would be to say: this Valentine's Day, look around at all of the love that surrounds you and make yourself a promise in the year ahead to listen to your heart. xo Kathleen
❤ Don't forget that I am giving away an original ACEO at the end of the day Friday. You can enter here. ❤
