Happy Valentines Day

I woke up to the most wonderful Valentines Day. Did you?

I walked out to find a breakfast lovingly prepared by my Valentine, my hot tea poured and a beautiful gift ready to be opened. Even the Sunday paper was there unfolded and waiting to be read. Was it the gifts that were so special, or the thoughts and actions behind them?

Don’t get me wrong, I love the bracelet and I’m keeping it! But my favorite things on the table were the handmade cards. A little bit of writing (in red, of course) that said, “I love you.” Just something so simple written out on the paper napkins touched me the most.

Did you do something special for someone?

In this time of turbulent economy and the recent tragedy in Haiti, it got me thinking about the need to do something daily for others.

It doesn’t have to be much. It doesn’t take much to show someone they’re important, and I don’t mean only your loved ones. Haiti is our most recent wake-up call, or should be, that the world is bigger than just us, individually, and we should do something every day to make a difference in lives other than our own.

Can you hold open a door? Pick up something someone’s dropped? Listen to their sorrows and thank them for sharing with you? Can you pay someone’s bill, offer your seat on the subway, help carry their heavy load?

At the end of the day, when we’re alone in our thoughts, isn’t knowing we’ve made a difference, we mattered to someone else today, what really gives us comfort and makes us feel connected?

Anytime you’re able, reach out and connect with someone else, even if briefly, to make a difference for them. Make your space in the world a better place.

And remember to smile.