The "Filler" Month

 

February   bears the distinction of being the cold month which simply marks the time between the dead of winter and the first inkling of spring. There is no aftermath of holidays, which we experience in January. There is not yet the great expectation, as in March, of wonderful spring weather just around the corner. It seemingly just exits as a filler between the changing of seasons. However, there are two days of "love" in this otherwise boring month: Valentine's Day and Family Day.  

What woman doesn't love Valentine's Day? It is a day in which the norm is flowers, chocolate and plush stuffed animals. It is the one day of the year when men feel they can wear their hearts on their sleeves and proclaim their love.  Couples feel free to spoil each other and enjoy the silly and wonderful little things that makes this day so special. 
 
Children love this day too.  Walk into any elementary school class room this week and you will see pink and red hearts decorating hallways and bulletin boards.  Of course, there is the exchange of valentines at the class party which makes this day so special to children.  I always enjoyed this tradition as a child and kept my valentines in a special folder for many years.  I think I probably still have it tucked away somewhere. 

While Valentine’s Day has been celebrated for many years, Family Day is a relatively new holiday.  It was created in 2007 as a way to fill in the long stretch between the January 1 holiday and Easter, and to encourage families to spend the day enjoying activities together.   Since it was proclaimed five years ago, it has grown each year as families take time to appreciate being together and doing things together.  Whether families  simply spend the day watching movies and enjoying a meal together, or spend the day outside sledding and skating, the time spent together helps to create a bond.  Families are creating memories which might not have happened if there was not a special day in February for doing so. 

I’ve come to realize how important it is to tell loved ones how you feel and to make sure they know.  No one ever hears the words “I love you” too often!  We are all fortunate to have people in our lives that we love and who love us.

By the end of this week, Valentine’s Day and Family Day 2013 will have come and gone.  I hope you spent Valentine’s Day this year with a special person who makes you happy; and I hope that on Family Day, you took the time to be with your family and enjoyed your day.  And I hope you told all of them how much you love them.   Enjoying special days with special people . .  . it’s a good thing!