It’s February, so you know what that means: President’s Day Mattress Sales!!!
Wait, no one gets three-exclamation-points excited about mattress sales. But, some people do really enjoy Valentine’s Day! It’s a day dedicated to romance and love, and that’s a good thing to think about in these troubling times.
Traditionally, Valentine’s Day is more focused on the romance side of things, but right now I’m thinking more about the other side of love. Love is more than just candy hearts and flowers; love is caring and empathy and friendship. And showing love isn’t just limited to our partners–it’s something we can share with our parents, siblings, children, friends, co-workers, and even complete strangers.
Love can make us do things we might not ordinarily do.
For love, you might listen to a different radio station than you normally would, because you know someone in the car with you doesn’t have quite the same taste in music as you. (And if the kids are with you, that might mean hearing “K-Pop Demon Hunter” for the 83rd time.)
For love, you might actually clean the bathtub, pulling someone else’s hair out of the drain in the process. Or clean the toilet, (and around it) even though it definitely wasn’t you who made that mess.
For love, you might know exactly what your spouse is going to order at the restaurant, and also what each of the kids is going to want, even though one child has decided to “hate” a particular food that they liked two weeks ago.
For love, you might sneak out and fuel your partner’s car, even if they didn’t ask you to do it. And maybe you’ll even take it to the car wash for them.
For love, you might let your spouse keep the television remote control on their side of the bed, even though you are fully capable of operating the remote and able to, all on your own, choose good shows that you will both enjoy watching.
For love, you might go through your loved one’s Amazon Wish List and get several things off of it for them as gifts. (But, be careful: just because someone has a toilet seat on their Amazon Wish List, it DOES NOT mean they want a toilet seat as a Christmas gift.)
For love, you might know someone well enough that you don’t have to go through their Amazon Wish List in order to know what they would like as gifts.
For love, you might be nice to people–not just the ones you love, but everyone you meet. (Even people trying to sell you mattresses.)
