Glimpse 6 - Love and a Valentine's Day Challenge

Love•a strong positive emotion of regard and affection.

Pretty straight forward isn't it. As Valentine's Day approaches, over 200 million cards will be given this year on the big February 14. At a conservative rate of $2.50 a card - that's $500,000,000 spent, five hundred million...in one day, on cards alone. I don't mean to minimize the fun of receiving cards, candy, flowers, etc..

but this year, I'm gonna start a new trend and challenge each of you in my life this year to try something different. Instead of buying me a card, or flowers or candy, I'd seriously prefer you tell me you love me and then donate money or time to any non-profit or worthwhile cause of your own choosing and tell me about it.

Maybe it's paying for two latte's at the drive thru, yours and the person behind you.. seeing an older couple or a single mom or dad at brunch with their kids and anonymously picking up the tab.. maybe it's volunteering your time at a local care facility or staying a moment or two longer with someone down on their luck right now in conversation to after working out, in the grocery store or after a church service on Sunday. Maybe it's picking up the phone and offering some time to someone you love and haven't reached out to in awhile. Maybe it's giving up that close parking spot and allowing the gal with four kids and a dog to have it... maybe it's $10 to the American Cancer Society or MS or Big Brothers Big Sisters. It could be deciding to pledge that day to raise money and walk in the Breast Cancer walk or ride your bike as far as you can in the MS rides or any other therein. It might mean trying to recycle more often or conserve water or energy in some manner - whatever it is..it needs to be a strong, positive emotion of regard and affection - for someone. From you.

If you choose to take on this challenge, I warn you now, it can be life altering. The simple act of anything done from a foundation of love - kindness, donation of your hard earned cash, talents..time, is an energy extended from you, in to the world of others. It expands your territory in ways I cannot describe. It matters, it changes you, it changes who receives it - and I've never NOT seen it make a difference.

Finding the "what" you want to do and with who and when you want to do it on Valentine's Day takes considerable insight in to yourself. Which is perhaps what I like most about this challenge. It can be as close to home as your sweetheart or family members or it could be further out in your circle of influence. To be able to give from a place of love is potentially the single best place to give from. It can even become a habit.

In our world, there are so many score sheets and tabulations - in giving from love, all those go out the window. In giving from love, you care not what you get back, you keep no tabs....you care only to give heartfully to those areas you have a strong positive emotion of regard and affection, because that's how love works. Anything else doesn't.

Happy Valentine's Day to each of you - and to those of you who take this challenge on February 14 or any other day of the week, let me know how it goes for you. What you thought, felt, learned.

I love you. And saying it to you didn't cost me a dime.