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Valentine's Day

Doing Valentine’s Day Your Way

Mona Alvarado Frazier
Photo by Alyssa Rose on Pexels.com

Theories abound about the origin of V-Day, but the most popular legend is about a Catholic priest who lived in the 3rd century. The story goes that Father Valentine was imprisoned and executed for performing marriages for Christian couples secretly during a time when the Roman Empire banned marriage.

Father Valentine sent a letter to the jailor’s daughter, who had visited him in prison, signed “From your Valentine,” This act of love inspired the modern celebration of Valentine’s Day as a day of love and romance.  

So, a priest sent a love letter to his jailer’s daughter. That’s not creepy, is it?

If you are single and without a love connection on Valentine’s Day, it’s important to remember that your relationship status does not define your self-worth. Have fun with the day.

Here are a few things that might help you have a positive and enjoyable day:

  1. Celebrate self-love: Treat yourself to something you love like a special meal, a movie, a new book, or whatever brings you joy.
  2. Spend time with friends or family: Surround yourself with people who love and support you. Have a Galentine’s or Palentine’s Day.
  3. Reach out to others in need of a kind word or gesture.
  4. Embrace your inner cat/dog/plant parent: Spend the day spoiling your furry, feathered, or leafy friends with extra treats, belly rubs, and TLC. They love you unconditionally.
  5. Embrace your inner grinch: Wear all black, listen to sad songs, and eat junk food.

A couple of poems to my daily loves (and I use that word loosely):

A Valentine for My Computer:

My love for you is like a virus

It spreads through my computer with ease,

I can’t function without you,

You’re my RAM, my hard drive,

my keys to everything

****

Anonymous

A Valentine for My Cell Phone:

You light up my life,

You’re always by my side

glowing in the dark

when I’m alone

*****

m.alvaradofrazier






Whatever you do, focus on what makes you happy and surround yourself with optimism and humor. So go ahead, have some laughs and enjoy the holiday on your own terms.





My Valentine to you:















February 14th is also Library Lover’s Day and International Book Giving Day. 





Share the message with someone. Thanks for reading, and enjoy your week. 

		


			
		
	






	
	

		Inspiration
Sunday Share: Storytelling Week
	


	

							

			 Mona Alvarado Frazier		
		
		

			

Hopi Storyteller










My newsletter went out yesterday, so I usually do not write a post on the last Sunday of the month, but there are always exceptions. 





National Storyteller Week begins today and until February 5, 2023. It’s an annual event to encourage people about the power of sharing stories and to promote storytelling. 





I shared stories in my newsletter and encourage you to share stories on your posts this week or tell your children, grandchildren, or friends stories about yourself or your ancestors. 





In the last two newsletters, I’ve held randomized drawings and given away two advance reader’s copies (ARCs) of The Garden of Second Chances, debuting June 6, 2023.





Here’s a poem about guess what? Storytelling:





The Storyteller Gets Her Name





My dad used to call me Eagle Eyes. I was the one to find eagles, owls, blue jays
on a dark day. He called me so until my brother was born infant and grew to boy.

Having heard my name, as younger siblings often do,
he wanted to be called Eagle Eyes too. He studied the birds’ flight, kept his

eyes to the skies for hours, and soon he knew their long names
and could correct me. Except, at sixteen, I never liked to be corrected.

But my brother showed me the work, and I had to learn to give.
Give him all I could as my elders did for me.

So I tugged on my heart to let go, as I knew he had earned Eagle Eyes
more than I ever could. And what I found instead was new room, for a new name.

I am Siwa’köl, storyteller.

And my brother, he is Eagle Eyes.

I tell his tales and mine so someday when we join the elders,
my stories may be told and his birds can take to the sky.

But for now, I will share with you my story so that you can know who you are—
and maybe you are Siwa’köl too.





By Ari Tison, Storyteller.










Do you share your ancestral stories? Link to one in the comments and share.





Thanks for reading. Be well, and have a good week.