On this lovely Valentine's Day, I am focusing on how thankful I am for LOVE! I'm not into the whole this-is-the-day-you-are-supposed-to-show-love thing, though. I think love is something that should always be around, felt, and shared. Every day is a new day to express the love you have in so many varied ways, why hold it back for one special day a year?

I've had some pretty horrible things happen to me while I was a child growing up, things that normally make people guarded and afraid to love and trust anyone. I'm not sure why, other than I was just born this way, but my heart has always been open. I can truly say that I love others and my love is genuine. It's rare that I meet someone I don't instantly love. When I do, I can usually figure out what it is about them that's keeping my heart closed. Once I figure that out, I can usually understand why they are that way (almost always because of things in their past that has shaped who they are)---which then opens my heart to them!

Because I love so openly and freely, my love is sometimes misunderstood.Women tend to think I'm insincere and men sometimes think I'm interested in them in a romantic way. Children, elderly people, mentally handicapped individuals, and animals almost always eagerly open their own hearts and allow the love to flow back and forth between us in the most beautiful way.I often hear comments about how "good" I am with children, elderly, or mentally handicapped people.It makes me sad that everyone doesn't experience love in this way.

Over the past two years I've been getting healthier as a whole being (body, mind, spirit, and emotions). During this time I realized something very important about my love. I was always openly sharing and giving to others, but I never thought to give to myself. I think it's so much easier to love the entire world than it is to love myself. It's something I've been working on, however. I do love myself, and with each new day I realize more and more about myself. The more I get to know my true self, the more I love myself. The love I share with those around me becomes even stronger, even deeper than it ever was in the past (something I never thought was possible).

Do you know the saying, "Don't give too much or else there will be nothing left for yourself"? Well, that just isn't the case with love. There is no limit to the amount of love one can share with others. The more you give, the more you have. You don't have to be stingy with it---share it with everyone and everything around you, all around the world.

I am thankful that I have a gift of an open, loving heart. I am thankful for LOVE and the ability to share it with others. On this lovely Valentine's Day, and every day, I wish for all of you to have open hearts that overflow with love, as well!