Last week, I read a phrase that gave me a good laugh. It said, “January was a tough year, but we made it.”
I personally had a wonderful start to the year (I married my awesome husband y’all), but as member of the human race there’s no way for me to overlook the hardships that January and the first couple of weeks of February have brought.
Complete divisiveness in our nation, deafening politics and a deadly disease that has killed hundreds have simply added to a societal feeling that I can only call “depressing” at times.
As far as I’m concerned, there’s no better time for my very favorite holiday to come back around.
Friday is Valentine’s Day and before anyone says anything about chalky candy hearts or being anti-Valentine’s Day, let’s take a look at the absolute most important part of the day.
Love.
There is absolutely nothing our world needs more right now than kindness and love, even if just for a day.
So of course, do something out of love for your family, friends, and significant other, but even more importantly, treat everyone you come in contact with with kindness. Reflect on how you treat those around you. From your co-worker to the man who checks you out at the store. Think about how your actions not only affect them, but also yourself.
Were you agitated and short with someone you barely know? Was it necessary? How do you think that made them feel? How do YOU feel?
I’ve found that if I stop to have a meaningful conversation with someone who has helped me with something, I leave the conversation with just an overall feeling of happiness and contentment.
However, there’s nothing that gets on my nerves more than watching someone treat someone else, let’s say their server at a restaurant, with so much contempt for no reason. They likely don’t know that person very well and they’ve chosen that time to be hateful? To the people who act that way: Do you honestly expect your hate to make any part of that situation better for you?
It’s truly pointless, a waste of your own time and energy and doing nothing but furthering that depressing feeling we have hanging over our heads.
Most of my Valentine’s Days have been spent making cards, eating treats with friends and just being happy in the moment. However, one Valentine’s Day in high school was spent, rather dramatically, in tears and suddenly left with no date.
I was heartbroken before I received a text message from a friend asking if I’d like to spend the evening with her and a few others from our church’s youth group. When I got to her house, she had decked her family’s living room out in red and pink and everyone was happy as a clam as they munched on their cookies and crafted handmade and thoughtful cards for each other.
Every sad emotion left me, and I was immediately overwhelmed with that special emotion we talked about earlier.
Love.
Love for my friend, love for community and love for a day that could bring everyone together.
Take advantage of the holiday Friday. Do something kind for someone. Please. The world needs it.
“Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.” - Mark Twain
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Sydney Taylor is the News Editor at The News Observer. She can be reached at 706-632-2019 or by email at sydney@thenewsobserver.com.