Psst!

Can I tell you a secret...

...I've never had a special someone to spend a Valentine's day with... but it's still my favorite holiday!  To me it's not about the mass commercialism that we've become accustomed to, but about the power of love... the love we share with family and friends, lovers, strangers, the world.  If you recall the famous Beetles' song lyrics, "All you need is love"... and I believe it!

Here's a little challenge for you.  Today, or any day (especially when you are alone and perhaps feeling a little loveless) reach out and do something for a complete stranger.  You know... a good old fashion random act of kindness.  Leave a short inspirational note on a bookmark in a library book for the next unexpecting reader (be creative... place your note in a self-help book about depression or some similar topic).  Get a balloon from the store and write something sweet on it (or on an attached tag), tie it somewhere at eye-level and let someone find it.  There are endless ways to spread the love.

Check out these sites for some additional ideas:

How to Be Nice: 48 Almost Effortless Ways You Can Do a Little Good in the World (this is one of my all time favorite articles).

Random Acts of Kindness (The official site.  Find lots of ways to be inspired and spread the love.)

You are Beautiful (One of my favorite projects!)

Found Art (create art and leave it for someone to find... lots of ideas on this site.)

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!  Whether you spend this day alone or with a paramour, I hope that it will be filled with love (the kind you give and the kind you receive). xox Ez

Mosaic image credits: 1. love you, 2. peaceandlove, 3. Heart, 4. tiny heart, 5. Day 22/365: Live, 6. Untitled

Comments

[Melissa Brown]

Dear lovely Ez,What a truly inspirational post. Lovely,lovely...I am a believer in the random acts of kindness gesture and will make a point of doing it today. Thank you for sharing your secret, for your lovely blog and for your kindness. Sending lots of love your way!xoxoMelissa

[Kelly]

thanks so much for sharing all of these fabulous links. i absolutely love the You Are Beautiful site!

and Happy Valentine's Day. :)

[clarice]

You know we have to know how to love oursleves before we can love others. Happy Valetines day. Clarice

[Caitlin @ Nice-Etc]

happy valentine's day, love!when i was little i always left notes in the books i would borrow! haha i should start again.-caitlin

[mary jo from trustyourstyle.co]

Ez, you are so beautiful inside and out! I knew that if I clicked over here today I would find something just lovely...so glad we met via the blog world!

[corine @ hidden in france]

I always felt that all one need is to love. Being loved is optional.

[Heather]

WOW! Your blog is A-MAZING! Love it!

[Sue]

Thank you so much for sharing these wonderful sites! YOU are beautiful!

[S.HOPtalk]

What a lovely sentiment!!! So well said.

Happy Valentine's Day to you.

[Stephanie]

Can I tell what someone did for me? I like to pick up pennies that I see on the street and sidewalk; sometimes I even find dimes--it makes me happy.

One early Sunday morning, I was going down into the subway, and there was a penny right in front of the turnstyle. I bent to pick it up, and an older woman who had just came out of the subway saw me and said, "You need money? Here you go, miss," and she swiped her card for me, allowing me to go in for free.

Now, actually it was very sweet, and did save me $2.00, and I actually appreciated saving that money...although that's surely not why I pick up pennies :)

It made my morning--how thoughtful of her to notice me, and think about a way to make my life easier. And they say New York City is a hard town!

[Dianna]

dear ez,

i just happened upon your blog by way of other blogs & what a lovely surprise. love this post & your others. happy to have found a new treasure to read.

[Stephanie Ryan]

What a great post!!!YOU are beautiful.

Stephanie