February, the month of cupids and hearts. I'm thankful its the shortest month of the year. In Ohio the weather is usually awful. (As I write this post with two inches of snow on the ground and freezing temperatures outside.) And not to mention the feeling that Valentine's Day conjures for someone that's single, Valentine's Day can be the most dreaded holiday of the year. The focus is always romantic love. Not that there's anything wrong with romantic love. Its great. The passion. The thinking of you texts. The gifts. The surprises. The gushing overwhelming feelings of just being in love.
However, if you happen to be in the percentage of people that aren't currently in love. Then, well, it sucks. Society makes you feel like a loser that you don't have a Valentine or a Special Someone to spend dinner with on February 14th. I don't know maybe its more how I make myself feel than society.
The last few weeks have been rough. Just usual life stuff, but rough, nonetheless. A good friend of my lost his mom. Writing, seemingly knocking my head against the wall. Overwhelmed with bureaucracy at work. And trying to get my second wind for the last half of the school year. Hurting students that don't know how to channel their feelings and personally, feeling at a loss to help them navigate this turbulent time in their lives. The end result for the student is representing these angst in an unhealthy way and being sent home from school and not returning to date. I worry about them. And I feel like my hands are tied.
And although I question from time to time my own connectedness to people, there's always something that happens that brings me back to the truth. Which is: I have a solid group of people in my life who give to me in ways I need just when I need it most. Whether it be encouraging words by email, Facebook, or texts or happy-go-lucky activities or random phone calls. So, thank you friends and tribe members. Thank you for giving to me in the midst of your own craziness and hectic lives. Most of my friends don't read my blog, but a few do now and again. I'm broadcasting this great big thank you to the universe and to God for sending me wonderful people who inhabit my life and I only hope my existence reflects some of the love you share with me. Happy Valentine's Day, and may we all celebrate all the LOVE. Romantic and otherwise.
