Yearly Ritual For The Lonely

7 years ago I went through a very heartbreaking divorce. I did not wan't to get divorced, but it happened nonetheless. I remember the first Valentine's Day without my husband, it was hard. February 14th has been designated by commercialism, people and history to be the day that you focus on those you love. Now, don't get me wrong... I have children... whom I love and adore. I make an extra effort to assure each of them that they are my special Valentine every year. But a parent-child relationship has a completely different dynamic than that of the ONE person you share everything with. Your partner. When you don't have a partner, Valentine's is a morbid day. I can't think of anything worse than a day where you feel the most alone out of 365 days of the year. So, I decided that NO ONE should EVER feel that alone. So the following year, I asked around, and I found out who my neighbors were. Widows, divorcees, the broken hearted, and some people who had never even experienced love... even though they are much older than I. I hand picked all of the people who I considered "lonely hearts"... and I made treats for all of them, decorated the plates and delivered cards that, in essence, said: "You are loved, someone is thinking bout you". It made me giddy. I have NEVER felt better than when I was running around putting a smile on the faces of those who might not have smiled otherwise. And I have done it every year since. This year I found a special Valentine. I found someone who is so hurt, it breaks your heart to hear of their struggle. Someone who you want to just take in your arms, hold them and tell them, "life will get better". So yes, I hand picked this Valentine. I decided to make a sacrifice for this person. I don't have a lot of money, but what money I had left from a very skimpy tax return I used it to buy something that would sooth this person... make them smile. I bought it to put a smile on this lonely heart's face. I haven't given it yet, so it is still a secret.... but I am giddy like a little child at Christmas to know that soon... they will receive something special and unexpected. To me, it is worth the sacrifice. I love Valentine's Day.... because it's not the day where I get to feel loved by someone close to me... but I get make someone else feel loved... when they didn't feel that way before.

I challenge those reading to do the same... whether it is cookies, a note or a bigger gesture. Find the Lonely Hearts, and let them know they are loved.