Share the Love a Little Differently this Valentine’s Day

When I first sat down to write this post I intended for it to be a Valentine’s Day gift guide. However, as I continued to write, it began to morph into something else. I realized I had a different message all together that I wanted to share for this upcoming Valentine’s Day. While Valentine’s Day can be sweet and wonderful, if you are hurting for any reason, it can be a really hard day. So, I decided to scrap the gift guide and share a more personal story that I hope can help anyone who might be hurting this Valentine’s Day, like I was at this time last year…

As Valentine’s Day 2014 was approaching, I was in the midst of trying to cope with a very sad breakup. It had been the end of a relationship that meant so much to me. And the end of a relationship I thought I would have my whole life.

I had always liked Valentine’s Day, whether it was about eating heart-shaped pancakes made by my mom back when I was a kid or, once I was older, about spending a snowy, cozy day in Chicago cooking and exchanging little presents with my then significant other. I had always appreciated Valentine’s Day for what it was…a nice reminder to tell those you love that you love them.

But, the anticipation of last Valentine’s Day felt like salt on top of an already painful, throbbing, open wound. Even though I was hurting, and I really couldn’t change that, I realized I had some control over the situation. I couldn’t change the things that had transpired and brought my relationship crashing to the ground, but I could change at least part of what Valentine’s Day meant to me. I wanted to take the best part of Valentine’s Day, the love, and share it a little differently that year. I may not have had romantic love, but I knew I had a whole lot of other love to share…

So, since my heart is full of love for animals, I decided I was going to make Valentine’s Day about sharing my love with animals in need. I wanted something I could do by myself, on a whim, and on my own time. Volunteering would have been great but for most organizations volunteering requires an orientation and training, so with Valentine’s Day just a few days away, that wasn’t an option. And then I realized exactly what I could do. I printed off the wish list for my local animal humane society, headed to Target and bought what I could to fulfill some of the items from the wish list. I bought blankets for the animals to cuddle up to, greens for the bunnies to eat, treats for the dogs to enjoy, kongs for them to play with and lots of peanut butter. It was still love. Just a different kind of Valentine’s Day love.

And the reason I’m sharing this with all of you is because whatever population you feel passionate about, there are so many people, or animals, out there that would love nothing more than to get some love from you this Valentine’s Day. Most hospitals, shelters and non-profit organizations have wish lists on their websites, just waiting to be fulfilled. Most often you can fulfill them at your own convenience, without planning ahead. Plus, most shelters, hospitals and nursing homes will accept handmade cards that will put a smile on their patients’ or residents’ faces. So whether you’re single or madly in love, doing something kind, big or small, is a great way to make Valentine’s Day one full of love, no matter what.

And even though there were still some tears, and there was still a whole lot of pain, I made it so I had something to feel really good about that Valentine’s Day. Something to put a smile on my face. Something to share the love I do have to give.

And with Valentine’s Day right around the corner this year, the first thing to cross my mind wasn’t romantic, it was what I would do to share the love a little differently this year…