After the snow and chocolates melt
February 13, 2014
By Amanda J. Ponzar @LivingUnited
Happy snow day. #Snowpocalypse. #Snowmaggedon.
It's time to relax, recharge, re-evaluate. I even started re-reading George Orwell's 1984, chuckling about how similar “Big brother is watching you” seems to the NSA today.
Students and teachers cheered; school is closed. Many kids played in the snow (including mine). Sledding, snow angels, snowball fights -- followed by hot cocoa with mini marshmallows.
Federal government employees got the day off.
Single people (or those without kids) probably slept in and watched TV –- maybe the Olympics. Go Team USA! Ah, I remember those carefree days before kids.
Parents are still drinking coffee and struggling to occupy the little ones. This long, cold winter has kept us all indoors, and spring can't come soon enough. Punxsutawney Phil, pull yourself together and out of that hole. You can't be afraid of your own shadow.
Some of you may have lost power, got in a fender bender (hopefully not) or are sprawled on the couch with a heating pad after shoveling the driveway (our family's brave shoveler is napping right now).
Whatever you meant for this day to be, it's probably different than you planned. Yet, it's a great chance to stop and take special time for yourself. To be thankful. To be together with those you love.
And love brings us to tomorrow: Valentine's Day. A day when we're supposed to be in love, to view love as cupids and cupcakes, chocolates and cookies, kisses and candies, roses and restaurants. (Sounds fattening?)
But rather than wish for love, can't we just start by loving those around us? The people we already have in our lives? Everyone wants to be loved, and dreams about that one perfect romantic relationship that will fill everything empty inside and make life a wild rollercoaster of wonder, but rarely do we stop to think about loving others first. Loving our family. Friends. Neighbors. Coworkers. Church/synagogue members. Clients. Acquaintances. Starbucks barista. Postal carrier. Hair dresser.
“What the world needs now, is love, sweet love. It's the only thing there's just too little of.” Listen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYVgJx7KW60
People are the most important “things” -- and the only thing that lasts after the snow and chocolates melt.
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