they got it wrong

hi.

i rarely can say that my thoughts are solid, as i continue to grow, learn & unlearn based on life coming at us superspeedtrainstyle.

growing up, my parents took care to let us know we were loved always by showing up. they disciplined us with safety & love in mind. they had special traditions that were not flashy but were meaningful & special to me to this day. i knew love to be all encompassing even when i didn’t want to do the dishes (still don’t).

and we laughed. A LOT! we still do, it is probably one of my favorite DNA pickups from my family – we all enjoy laughing and a great sense of humor. 😉

we enjoyed & continue to enjoy music, sports, discussions on silly & important things each time we talk or are lucky enough to all be together.

we say we love each other now, but honestly growing up we didn’t say it all that much that i can remember (although i seem to be Dory-ish in my memory, so splash of salt water i think), but it was shown. and we practiced it always.

it wasn’t flowers, candy and pink store bought cards.

it wasn’t eating out at restaurants every year on a specific day when prices would be boosted because someone thought a weird old saint would be a profitable business idea.

it wasn’t in any way forced, or guilt stricken or make you feel bad about yourself.

it was asking about a day, paying attention to the stories of the friends you adored, showing up again and again and again at the countless practices, meets, matches & games, student conferences, awards banquets and events that we participated in.

it was sacrificing so much.

it was growing our individual faith in a love that can’t be matched.

it was showing us hard work pays off, sometimes perfectly planned plans will crumble, and the best way to deal with that is together, tears, laughter, perhaps an old sailor word (Creator made me spicy sometimes, what can i say 😉). maybe even a spaghetti pie or a hot cup of tiger tea. (don’t even get me started on homemade popcorn & Grandma F’s bread). red pop anyone? 🙌

what i am saying is this:

if today, this overly simplistic version of red, pink, chocolate covered fluff doesn’t sit with your heart in a way that reminds you of the real love you feel the rest of the year from your family, friends, pets & gamer studs: it’s because ‘Big Business Profit off of Merchandising’ got it wrong. they might as well call this version lov3.

because it isn’t the real thing.

no one can sell you love.

you can’t quantify it with material goods.

dinners or dates or chocolates are nice.

but the story of you being a fully beloved human, breathing, being, soul is actually love. full stop.

no one other person will fulfill that.

no one singular day will reflect that.

no wilted, thorny bouquet will so eloquently state what our Creator knows and is always telling us:

you are loved.

each second.

each breath.

each moment of your life, and beyond.

it’s being shown love when you don’t expect it, think somehow you don’t deserve it (spoiler alert: you always do), or can’t imagine that it’s out there in real time.

it’s neighbor helping neighbor helping neighbor. it’s really hearing someone, really seeing someone or something for what they need, no matter if they are your patient, your parrot, or your preacher.

it’s reaching out even when you are hurting because connection is the real medicine.

so, don’t you for one second think, that pink paper, or pink centered steak served on a specific day (oh, i know this one may be controversial 😂) is the real deal.

i promise you i am not certain on much in this life, but the big push for the commercialization of love?

they got it wrong.

its all around you, if you look for it. plus! i love you. no strings attached, the whole stinking year (even those weird leap years! one extra day to love).

peace to you my friends, and all the REAL love

beyond your wildest cotton candy cloud dreams.