Loving and Appreciating Our Loved Ones

Loving and Appreciating Our Loved Ones

Image of a Victorian Valentine's Day card from WikipediaWith Valentine’s Day just two weeks away, many businesses are gearing up for one of the most commercialise holidays. I see Valentine’s Day packages and special deals almost everywhere I go, listen or read; different hotels are tying up with banks to allure you with their Valentine’s Day Hotel packages and deals. One is throwing in a 5-course dinner by their hotel poolside rooms by their star chef. Not only that, it is topping up that dinner by welcoming you with chocolate pralines, bouquet of roses and personalised him/her bathrobes. Are you not tempted enough?

Then, there are other hotels that pamper you with complimentary spa with sparkling wine. If you are a very family person and want to share this joy with your children, they are even willing to include complimentary breakfast and extra bed.

And since Valentine’s Day falls on the weekend this year, some of you may be planning for a short weekend getaway. A trip to a beach resort or warmer location may be good. Or how about a weekend cruise? Whatever you may have in mind, I believe you will be able to find great Valentine’s Day travel deals and packages.

With much focus on Valentine’s Day these days, we are truly spoiled for choices – but only if we allow ourselves to be caught up in all the marketing buzz. How are you spending your Valentine’s Day in 2010? Would it just be quiet moments with your loved one? Or would it be a day with your family or friends?

However, beyond the plan you may have, what is most important is how are we loving our loved ones.

Take Valentine’s day as a day to retake love vows for each other. Find the magic in saying, “I’d marry you all over again.” And it can also be a day to show gratitude for the good times and bad times you and your loved one had weathered together.

From just a traditional day on which lovers express their love for each other, Valentine’s Day has evolved and extended that expression of love to both family and friends too. The question is, “Are we showing enough love and appreciation to our families and friends?” It is not difficult for us to show our love and appreciation to our families and friends on Valentine’s Day since it is only a day’s affair. The challenge is showing the love and appreciation to them throughout the year.

Let us remember to regularly show our love and appreciation to those we love. We must learn to shower our loved ones, families and friends with gratitude so they will always feel loved and appreciated. We do not have to wait for a special day like Valentine’s Day. Do it every day.

Photo by Billy Frank Alexander
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35 thoughts on “Loving and Appreciating Our Loved Ones

  1. Davina

    I agree about not waiting for a day like Valentine’s Day to show appreciation. In fact, when someone does something special for me randomly, for no particular reason, it means even more.

    1. Symphony of Love Post author

      @ Mike, thank you for coming over to let me know that you are passing me the awards. Hope that you have a great week ahead.

      @ Davina, I agree with you totally; the unexpected and for no particular reason is what always touched me most.

  2. Brandy

    I make a choice each day to forget yesterday, all the mistakes made and wake up with an appreciation of my family like no other. It is hard to remember to appreciate your loved ones with life being so fast paced, but this post is so true! Well written and great points!!
    .-= Brandy´s last blog ..FarmerDad Guest Blog =-.

    1. Symphony of Love Post author

      @ Brandy, what a wonderful thing to do; making a choice each day to forget all the mistakes made and wake up with an appreciation of your family. This could be something that everyone can do. Indeed, with life being so fast paced, we tend to forget about our families and friends and to take them for granted.

      @ Tracy, you are absolutely right! Love is the best gift that anyone can have. Thank you for sharing this wisdom.

  3. Jen

    My daughter’s birthday is on Valentine’s Day so it is always a celebration. We kind of forget about the romantic aspect of the day. And you are so right about expressing gratitude on a daily basis rather than just waiting to do it on one day of the year.
    .-= Jen´s last blog ..Wii Knee and the Power of the Blogosphere =-.

  4. meleah rebeccah

    Im having a little bit of a hard time this year as far as Valentines day is concerned, my significant other and I are not on great terms at the present time, and I dont even know of we will make it to the holiday. And, that breaks my heart.

    However you asked:

    “How are you spending your Valentine’s Day in 2010? Would it just be quiet moments with your loved one? Or would it be a day with your family or friends?”

    If I had my choice I would DO BOTH!

    But it looks like I just might be alone on that day. Its also my parents wedding anniversary on Valentines Day, so they will be gone for the weekend. My son will be at his fathers house for that weekend, and my Best Friend is recovering from surgery! So…. thankfully I have my local country club wherein I will have some great food and maybe even a stiff drink! And there are always my internet pals to make me feel loved!!

    I loved your advice on how we should express gratitude and LOVE on a daily basis rather than waiting to do it on one day of the year. Thanks for that!
    .-= meleah rebeccah´s last blog ..Stepping Up To The Plate – And, Wherein I Am Awesome =-.

  5. One of The Guys

    “Let us remember to regularly show our love and appreciation to those we love. We do not have to wait for a special day like Valentine’s Day. Do it every day.”

    AMEN! You are right on with this.

    Every day is a special day. We have to learn to appreciate all the moments, not just the Hallmark Holidays!
    .-= One of The Guys´s last blog ..Conflict, Grudges and Politics =-.

    1. Symphony of Love Post author

      @ Jen, that is nice; to have a birthday celebration every year on Valentine’s Day, which just helps to forget about the craze and emphasis on the day itself. If we remember about loving and appreciating people around us, everyday is Valentine’s Day.

      @ Meleah, sorry to hear about your current situation. It would be a nice thing to be able to spend the day with both loved one, family and friends where everyone can share the joy of the day. Perhaps there is something special you can do for your best friend who is recovering from surgery? And it may not be too bad to have a drink in the local country club; I love the idea of some great food and a stiff drink.

      @ One of The Guys, that is the best thing we can do for people around us; to show our love and appreciation for them regularly.

      @ Jannie, looks like it is gonna be celebration after celebration in February for your family. 😀

  6. Jannie Funster

    I would like to say— HOLY COW!!! It’s February???

    Gee, I guess it is.

    This is a great month for us because my hubby’s birthday is on the 8th, the Subject Of This Post On the 14th , of course, and our anniversary on the 22nd.

    I think all the Valentines cardsvlook so pretty all in pretty bunches in the stores.
    .-= Jannie Funster´s last blog ..Wonderfully Wonderful Winter =-.

  7. Belinda Munoz

    Lovely post and so full of heart enough to fill any day of the year! And when you think about it, it is a very realistic thing to do because we are first and foremost beings who have the capacity for love, not just once a year but every day of the year. Thanks for the inspiration.

  8. CrAzY Working Mom

    You’ve got some awesome tips here. We usually spend more on the kids at V-day than we do on one another. We’re SO past that. *LOL* But, a simple I love you and a kiss goes a long way, no matter what day of the year. 🙂

    Thanks for the visit. Have a great week.

  9. Tina t

    This post is so true. My husband is sweet and loving to me all year long, so we don’t do anything special on Valentine’s Day. This holiday has been taken over by candy and flower companies, which have nothing to do with real love.
    .-= Tina t´s last blog ..Why Won’t He Marry Me? =-.

    1. Symphony of Love Post author

      @ Life Ramblings, yes, I agree with you that dinners and flowers are ridiculously expensive. That money could be better spent else where.

      @ CrAzY Working Mom, I certainly agree with you that a simple ‘I Love You’ and kiss anytime of the year go a long way.

      @ Tina, for some it may even become a ‘show business’ to show off how much they are spending for the big day. I am not against the sincere wish to make the day a memorable one, just not using it to show off.

      @ Dina, thank you.

      @ Carver, indeed, Valentine’s day is a great time to express caring and love and that Valentine’s day tradition should be carried forward to all year long.

      @ Marikenya, thank you too for visiting. 🙂

  10. jacqueline

    Dear Bk, thank you so much for such a wonderful meaning post and a reminder to us all that we should never overlook beyond all that we have plan for this day afterall everything just falls back to the basic ~ showing our love and appreciation to the one we love.

    I don’t have anything plan out so far for valentine’s day but i am starting to look into some gifts both handmade and store bought for my love. 🙂

    Have a lovely merry happy day and love to yoU!
    .-= jacqueline´s last blog ..Happy february =-.

    1. Symphony of Love Post author

      @ Jacqueline, indeed, everything just falls back to the basic ~ showing our love and appreciation to the one we love. From the little crafts that you were making, I am very sure you are doing that already. Have a lovely merry happy day and love to you too! 🙂

  11. jacqueline

    Dear BK, wow I didn’t know we reside so close to each other. 😀 Good thing that you pointed it out!

    Cleaning and shopping for CNY is still an ongoing process and I only have about 1 week more. And I am still baking my Valentine’s Day gifts in my little creative space. There’s so much to do and yet so little time. I guess this happens when every things seems to happen to fall on the same day!

    Lots of love to you!
    .-= jacqueline´s last blog ..Happy february =-.

    1. Symphony of Love Post author

      @ Jacqueline, LOL! Curiosity got the better of me when you were talking about Chinese New Year and I just tried to see if you mentioned where you are from in your blog and realise that you are just across the causeway. 😀

      I guess there is never enough time to finish all the tasks that we set for ourselves. Just one step at a time. Lots of love to you too! 🙂

  12. Megan "JoyGirl!" Bord

    I think you’ve made a great point — this “holiday” can simply be about letting the people in our lives know that we care for them deeply. Trinkets are nice, but sometimes all we need to do is look someone in the eyes and tell them how important they are to us, and that we love them for who they are.
    .-= Megan “JoyGirl!” Bord´s last blog ..Love, the Eternal Law =-.

    1. Symphony of Love Post author

      @ Tina, we can all learn to show love and appreciation to our loved ones throughout the year. 🙂

      @ Megan, you can’t be more right that sometimes all we need to do is to look someone in the eyes and tell him/he how important he/she is to us and that we love him/her for who they are.

  13. Penny

    This is such an important message. I actually am going to be spending Valentine’s day with the whole family this year, since we’re going on a break away for a week. My partner will be coming too, but it’s going to be more of a whole family time which will be nice.
    .-= Penny´s last blog ..A Dream I Often Have =-.