Who doesn’t remember the love songs of their youth? Those lyrics that reached right into the adolescent heart where the first flames of “forever” love and “happily ever after” love burned. Those songs were sung over and over again, played on the radio every day, danced to at every party – and it’s hard to forget them or that time in my life.
Some of you may also have fond remembrances of these songs and the romantic feelings that they engendered in youth. I should add that Valentine’s Day is very different for me at this stage of life. I feel the universality of being loving and being loved as fundamental to life and am glad that this day makes me think of others this way. “Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive.”
― Dalai Lama XIV, The Art of Happiness
Hope you enjoy these selections as you reminisce with me!
I’m also going to share some of my current favourite quotes with you for Valentine’s Day. There are thousands to choose from but I feel these are relevant to the times we are living in. For me, Valentine’s Day is a day to also reflect on the expansiveness of this “love” we all share and the following quotes hopefully reflect this. On this Happy Hearts Day, remember too that many do not have a romantic partner or relationship. Your love may be the only love they get.
The love of one’s country is a natural thing. But why should love stop at the border? ~ Pablo Casals
I believe that the world was created and approved by love, that it subsists, coheres, and endures by love, and that, insofar as it is redeemable, it can be redeemed only by love. ~ Wendell Berry
“The new expanded spirituality is all inclusive. It is inclusive, because it comes from unconditional love. In the concept of unconditional love there is no exclusion. Everything and everyone is seen as a part of oneself.
It is a beautiful spirituality as the one who lives by its principles cannot by definition be a part of any conflict.”
― Raphael Zernoff
Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope. ~ Maya Angelou
In a world so torn apart by rivalry, anger, and hatred, we have the privileged vocation to be living signs of a love that can bridge all divisions and heal all wounds. ~ Henri Nouwen
Miss no single opportunity of making some small sacrifice, here by a smiling look, there by a kindly word; always doing the smaller right and doing it all for love. ~ St. Thérèse of Lisieux
Happy Valentine’s Day!