Art & Entertainment

Where is Your Heart?
by Lolae Joline Lambert

As a child, I remember going to the store and purchasing bags and bags of Valentine cards to give to classmates…They were all shapes and sizes with different messages and sometimes even required assembly. It was fun…carefully selecting the one in the bags that fit the person, signing the cards, and sharing with others. In the early years everyone gave a Valentine to everyone in the class. No one felt left out.

In school we would make valentine cards for our parents and other family members. We spent more time creating these…cutting out paper hearts and gluing paper lace and ribbons, making sure to write neatly and clearly "I love you" on the front. And we did love these people. We loved them enough to spend our valuable time to make them smile and to say "thank you for being in my life." In fact, the smiles of fellow students, teachers, and family made the endeavor worthwhile. We invested our talents and our hearts in the treasured gifts.

As we matured, we became more selective about who and what type of Valentine we would give. Very "special” people received extraordinary creations or purchased cards and others…not so much. Not everyone was given a card or creation from us…the privilege was reserved for only a few. 

The attraction to the opposite sex dictated in later years the Valentine selection. People would say, "I did not give you a card because you are not my boyfriend, husband, wife etc. Whoa! What Happened? When did Valentines only become available to sweethearts, husbands, and wives? Surely the card companies are not in on this. They keep producing Valentine cards for everyone from your third cousin to the family pets.

While this seems the natural course of events...being more selective as we get older, it is not fun being a widow, single, or without a date on Valentine’s Day and all the chocolate in the world won’t change this. Some people actually crawl under a blanket on the sofa with a box of chocolates to ease the pain of the loneliness made even more intense because of the holiday. All holidays for people alone are not fun, but Valentines’ Day screams, ever so quietly, you do not measure up. You do not have romantic love in your life. Why are you alone? There must be something inadequate about you.

Okay. Some of this is negative. However, it must be expressed and realized before we can make our point. There is nothing wrong with romantic love or celebrating the emotion and the people involved. But, would it be so wrong to return to the time of your childhood this year and wish everyone a "Happy Valentine’s Day"…maybe add a hug and an “I love you because you are special to me.”
 
Think back to the days of Kindergarten and how you looked forward to passing out and receiving the little notes of love. Maybe you can give that to yourself and someone else this year. Maybe you could give a hand written note for the paper person, teller at the bank, or server in a restaurant. Go on! Draw a heart and a message on a napkin and leave it with your tip. I promise it will do your heart good!

Take a box of heart shaped cookies to a soup kitchen. Buy a heart shaped cake and take it to a nursing home. You get the idea. I don’t know what is more loving than caring for others.
 
I do know that wherever you put your heart, your mind and life will follow.

What will you do this Valentine’s Day?

About the Author
Lolae Joline Lambert resides in a quaint village in Southern New Jersey. Always looking for new adventures, she is entrepreneurial by nature. Her careers have included real estate sales, real estate investing, and property management. She was Director of a Christian Preschool, and is currently a Substitute Teacher. Writing has been her lifelong love. Ms. Lambert is the owner of The Women of Cumberland County, an online magazine and the sister site of The Women of Salem County. For Speaking Engagements and Book Signings, please email lolae_joline_lambert@yahoo.com. For more information, visit her website, http://www.lolaejolinelambert.com.