It is Valentine’s Day, again. It is my all-time favorite holiday of the year. A day without the stress of massive preparations or the heavy expectations that come with other mainstream holidays. Yet a day dedicated to the expression of love. And, my dear readers, you know how I LOVE love.

But unfortunately, our culture has hijacked Valentine’s Day for commercial gain. This has put the focus of the day on romantic love and being part of an intimate relationship. Commercials fill the air with ideas about what to get that special someone in your life. This leaves people without intimate partners feeling left out and sometimes, less than. The past two weeks, I have heard my clients’ pain of not being in a romantic relationship or being in an unhappy relationship on Valentine’s Day. I have experienced that pain in my life as well , so I get it. Maybe that is how I fell in love with a different kind of Valentine’s Day, one that puts the focus back on love.

This shift to love is created simply by asking the question, “How can I show up as love in the world?” And the answer will be so different according to your gifts and your interests. It could be making a meal for someone who has been having a hard time. It could be connecting with an old friend and expressing your appreciation for them. It could be buying Starbucks or McDonalds for the car behind you in the drive-through. It could be volunteering for organizations that support people in need. It could be making homemade valentines for the people you love. The last one is my personal favorite. In the next two days, my daughters and my cousins will be receiving homemade cards individually created to express my love. And while that is how I show up as love in the world, it is one possibility among many.

So, if you are one of the many experiencing pangs of loneliness over Valentine’s Day, reflect for yourself about the many ways you can show up as love in the world. And who knows, it could be the beginning of acts of love through out the year. Happy Valentine’s Day.