It’s almost Valentine’s Day. What does that bring to mind for you? Heart-shaped decorations? Roses? Chocolates? For me it’s broader than decorations and date night.
It’s about hearts full of love and friendship. Celebration and connection. Loving your life and the people you have connected with. Taking a moment to celebrate love in all its forms. And taking care to love yourself, too.
A freind is one that knows you as you are, understand where you have been, accepts what you have become, and still, gently allows you to grow.
William Shakespeare
I love holidays, decorations, chocolate, and other delicious food and drink.
But as a commitment to self-love and self-care this year I am trying to do what I need to do to get healthier while still celebrating friendship and connection.
And that means changing some of my typical ways to celebrate.
Changing up some of my food, drink, and sitting and sipping holiday habits.
To bring in some of things I love beyond eating and drinking with friends, like being in nature, being creative, and playing with new ways to use old things or what’s in the garden and new recipes.
Here are a few ways we’ve celebrated Valentine’s Day and connection over the years:
- chocolate potluck party
- friendship potluck
- hike and picnic at the beach with a stop for our favorite crab sandwiches
- turning our downstairs into a fancy french restaurant for the evening with Dale as chef and server (he may have been 10 or 11 that year)
- a big homeschool community potluck and dance with games
- baking and delivering treats to friends
- making cards to send
- heart themed meal – artichoke hearts, hearts of romaine, heart-shaped cake…
- movie nights with friendship theme
- poetry nights
- clue and scavenger hunts
- writing rhymes and other love poems
- sewing heart-shaped or themed quilts or crafts
- framing or making something with favorite photos – or with photos that aren’t that great but still bring a happy memory.
Sometimes we celebrated with lots of folks, and sometimes just with us.
It’s not the numbers that matter. Or the ages.
So, I am ready to brainstorm some new healthy activities to add to my list. I like finding family friendly activities. And if the craft says kid or toddler friendly then I can usually figure it out.
Just, you know, to explore creatively and playfully living, loving, and learning.
And celebrating connection.
Here are a few ideas I found while poking around the internet this morning. I love the ones that are simple, diy, playful, and can be done with all ages.
http://rainorshinemamma.com/15-nature-inspired-valentine-crafts-activities-and-cards-for-kids/
https://www.verywellfamily.com/active-valentines-day-games-and-activities-1256836
Valentine Nature Hike
https://www.happygoluckyblog.com/2014/01/glitter-heart-burlap-banner.html
What ideas do you have for celebrating connection? Let me know in the comments!