~ The Lovezone with Geena Lee ~ Episode 16: A Love Holiday

As Valentine’s Day descends upon us, we’re bombarded with the usual commercials and commentary on how to show that special someone how much you love them. V-Day can be uncomfortable for both the single and attached. For singles, it presents the reminder that you don’t have a significant other, and for those in a relationship, the pressure is on to ‘prove’ your love to your partner. Then there’s the task of having to come up with interesting answers to the questions, “so what do you have planned for Valentine’s Day?” And afterwards, “so what did you DO on Valentine’s Day?” Some of us opt out of celebrating it altogether, but it’s kind of hard to ignore all the fuss going on (unless you live under a rock) and in some way, we are forced to acknowledge the significance of the day.

What’s so significant about V-Day anyway? Why has the card and flower-filled ritual endured throughout the centuries? Well the answer is simple: it’s about love, and we can all relate to love. Who doesn’t appreciate someone proclaiming their adoration for you in a poem or with a thoughtful gift? Making it an event to prepare and participate in, gives it importance. Honestly, with the way our modern society is, a lot of times we wouldn’t get around to doing the things we should be doing every day if there wasn’t an ‘official’ day slotted for it. Take the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays for example, we know we can get together with the ones we love at anytime, express our gratitude and affection at any time, but things seem to have a more special glow when there’s a day dedicated to it. And hey, I’m all for a day dedicated to love.

A love holiday. Sounds nice doesn’t it? You can schedule one whenever you’d like, for as long as you’d like, but if February 14th does it for you, that’s cool too. Maybe it includes champagne and chocolates, flowers and flirting, or poetry and passion. Maybe it’s just you doing something nice for yourself; self-love is something many of us have too little of. What do you love about yourself? What things can you do in your life to affirm and maintain that love? Love starts from within after all. If you want to be in love, you must live in love. It’s a state of being; an awareness of connection, a willingness to be vulnerable, to share…knowing that there’s always more to spare. Since we’ve set aside a day for love, let’s do it justice by going deeper than the Hershey’s Kisses and Hallmark cards.

So how do you prove your love? A lot of times we have restrictive standards on what constitutes love, and that limits our ability to give and receive it. Sometimes realizing you’re in love comes as a shock; a sneak attack that brings you to your knees…why do you think they call it ‘falling in love’? When you start to care really deeply for someone, it can be a scary yet exhilarating experience – this person has your heart…wait a minute…this person has your heart!! Hopefully the joy replaces the panic, because love can’t thrive in fear. And that’s how you prove your love is true: you give it with joy; with no conditions…no point system. Happy Valentine’s Day!

Love,

Geena

A Love Holiday
(to download mix, click here)

Brian McKnight – Love Of My Life
Patti Labelle – My Love, Sweet Love
Barry White – You Turned My Whole World Around
Tamia – You Put A Move On My Heart
Boyz II Men – I’ll Make Love To You
Anita Baker – Rapture
After 7 – Ready Or Not
Prince – Adore
Chante Moore & Keith Washington – I Love You
Keith Sweat – I’ll Give All My Love To You
Glenn Jones – We’ve Only Just Begun
Lakeside – Real Love
Heatwave – Always
Force M.D.s – Tender Love
Freddie Jackson – You Are My Lady
Minnie Riperton – Loving You
Stevie Wonder – Ribbon In The Sky
Roberta Flack & Peabo Bryson – Tonight, I Celebrate My Love
Luther Vandross & Mariah Carey – Endless Love
Chaka Khan – My Funny Valentine

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Geena Lee
Lovesoul Studio
Toronto, Canada