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Health & Fitness

Valentines Day with a Twist- Margot Ferron

Valentines Day doesn’t have to be expensive, lonely or boring.  It is what you make it.   Do something kind today for a stranger.

Don't you have fond memories of Valentines Day when things were simple.  We created handmade cards with ribbons, lace, construction paper and lots of edible glue.  We put them in a decorated shoebox (you thought Hallmark was smart) and then we exchanged them with our classmates.

The poems and greetings, we read them for weeks.  If you were lucky, you got some candy conversational hearts, chocolates or heart shaped cookies.  Now it is a day that can be a riddled in expensive ----roses, wine and dine.

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Who doesn't love Valentines Day!  Dare to be different.  Get a little crazy with outrageous clothes and socks.

For me, it is the perfect opportunity to be care free and give strangers cookies, gifts and bears.  I always seek to reclaim that squirrely, girly, simple excitement by giving “free hugs.”  

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I have given out “free hugs” many times and I love it.  Try it.  There’s just no way to describe the rush, the emotion and joy that hugging friends and strangers gives you.   In an instance you are no longer strangers.

Trust me, I had to get out of my comfort zone, but it is something so simple, and engaging.   Be prepared to embrace the stories of loneliness, despair and heartaches.   One lady said to me, “You have no idea how badly I need a hug. I was just diagnosed with breast cancer.”   Someone else shared there 38 year old daughter just died of a heart attack.   Another lady lost her husband.

I don’t ever want to become so jaded by the ill, wills in life not to take the time to be able to listen and love my neighbor.   We never know when a simple act of kindness can help make someone’s life a little easier.  No act of kindness is insignificant---a warm greeting, a smile and of course a hug.

So, I ask you what is a hug is really worth?  Before you know it, the whole world will be hugging you.  I challenge you to do something for someone else for Valentine’s Day.

Got Heart?   Tell us what you are going to do today.

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