Whats Love Got To Do With It?

Everything is my answer. This past weekend has really made me reflect on why Valentine's Day has morphed into an exclusive holiday when we could all have it as a celebration of something that we all share as humans. It also made me wonder why Love Actually is more of a Christmas movie to me rather then something to watch on Feb. 14th. It's not just a holiday to be shared and reaped by lovers. It can be shared by everyone if we choose to accept it as a celebration of love in the greatest sense. Rumi once said, "let the beauty of love be what you do." To me, that is the type of love that should be embraced and honored on Valentine's day because it is all encompassing. It means that love is present everywhere in any which way it decides to find its way in to your life. If we chose to live our lives with the cognizant goal of engaging love in as many aspects of our daily life as possible- think of the possibilities. 

Since it is still early on in the year, I want to take this time to share one of my goals for this year which is to live life with purpose, but not a purpose-driven life. I say this with the utmost intention of focusing on my dreams and lifelong aspirations, but I want to also be sure to enjoy the present. The future is very important to me but I also want to build the ultimate path to get to my destination and I'm not the type of person that likes to take the shortest path necessary. I want to make headway and enjoy the views on the way up.

In the spirit of Valentine's Day I have decided to craft a list of the things I have felt most grateful for this past weekend. And yes, I am well aware that it is not Thanksgiving. Each of the items of this list represents a level of love that I encounter on an every day basis.

- Having a wonderful family that is supportive and loving through it all, even when they seem to have a hard time expressing it. I know that deep down inside good intentions are abound and I just need to learn how to live my life accordingly. 

- Having a very special person in my life that epitomizes the essence of love, close to my heart at all times.

- Friends that I know I can always count on and enjoy just being myself around. I love you guys!

- the rain and how it can be such a calming influence and a great addition to a lazy weekend at home

- to the future and what passions at play can lead to

- Being alive

Background Music: One More Chance - Will.i.am