February 14th, the day of red hearts and cupids! I've never understood why we only set aside one day per year to focus on one of the most important things in the world-LOVE! Seems to me everyday should be the day for expressing how much we love and care for others.



With its paper cards and ribbon-tied boxes of chocolates, Valentine's Day is the most popular day for people to dine out. In fact, if you don't get a reservation a few weeks beforehand you may wait in line for hours to get a table at your favorite restaurant. But it's also a day when many expectations turn to disappointments.

I remember when I worked a corporate job. Every woman hoped her lover remembered to get her something special. Even better if he had it delivered to the office so everyone else could see how much he loved her. The door was watched all day looking for the next flower van to drive up.

The lucky employees would need assistance getting out the door at five o'clock with her unruly balloon cluster or water-filled vase of $75 roses. The unlucky ones clutched their empty lunch bags and hoped for better luck at home; that is, if they had anyone to go home to.

The fourteenth forgotten, the next day brought the lucky ones in smelling of the latest designer fragrance either clutching their gourmet leftovers or brown bagging a Lean Cuisine proudly announcing, "I won't be going out for lunch today. I had too many delicious calories last night when my honey took me to the Divine Diner."

One year our office offered the opportunity to purchase tulips through a charity organization. Everyone bought at least one stem since they were so inexpensive. Some people anonymously bought tulips for people who didn't normally get flowers or balloons on the big day for love. Nearly every desk was adorned with a beautiful array of colorful imported Dutch blossoms and the office was brightened up with an energy that lifted everyone's spirits. Everyone came out smelling like a rose--or tulip in this case!

It's surprising that something as simple as buying a flower for someone at the office would spur such an abundance of caring gestures. Several employees brought in day-after boxes and trays of half-priced dark, sweet morsels to share with everyone.

Valentine's Day is not the only day to show love. The time I got an unexpected bouquet of flowers at the office, I thought surely the delivery person had brought them to the wrong cubicle. It wasn't my birthday. It wasn't a holiday or any special occasion. My husband had given me a gift on a "non-gift" day! I was the talk of the entire first floor.

Romance does not have to be a bottle of expensive wine, or a bouquet of flowers. It can be a phone call to say, "I love you," a homemade card, or simply doing the laundry for someone.