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When you need help navigating the choppy waters of this sea of life, it is usually a good idea to turn to major holidays for inspiration. Holidays give us social cues and help unify us just a little bit more. As I am writing this, it is the month of February. The second month of the year means candy hearts, greeting cards, and more chocolate than you can eat in said month... but that never stopped us from giving that the old college try, huh? It is the season for valentines, as well, and though we might only send them once a year, haven't you ever wanted to keep a few on hand? What if we had a valentine that would last all year round? What if that valentine could be sent to anyone influential in our lives, be they a partner, friend, associate, client, or someone we admire professionally? If it helps, you can think of it as fan mail once February is over. In Positive Psychology, studies show that a valentine can generate happiness. In the same way, writing a gratitude letter to someone-a loved one, a beloved teacher or coach, even an esteemed client or colleague-has been shown to have a mood-boosting effect that will last for months. What would happen if we sent these "valentine" gratitude letters all year? According to the studies out there, we would probably find ourselves happier overall, no matter what our circumstances. We might even end up like Valentine, who created the valentine in the middle of a pretty bad set of circumstances. You need not ask me to tell you the story; read on to find out. All versions of the legend say that Valentine was an early Christian in the Roman Empire. The Romans still persecuted Christians in the Roman Empire but Valentine persisted in practicing his own faith and steadfastly turned down conversion. This enraged Emperor Claudius II and he put Valentine in the slammer…. Not a gratitude-inspiring atmosphere, would you say? For the romantics among us, there is a twist: Some scholars believe that during his imprisonment, Valentine befriended the jailer's blind daughter. She brought him notes and flowers from his fans, the children. Receiving these visits and gifts must have been nice but the fact remained that Valentine was still in prison. Some believe that the jailer's daughter and the future saint fell in love. Before he was executed, Valentine purportedly prayed for the jailer's daughter and she regained her sight. (So he helped perform miracles too, further propelling him towards saint status.) Before his death, Valentine was said to have written a farewell note to the jailer's daughter, which he of course signed "From your Valentine." Those were some pretty harsh circumstances for sending a valentine. It sure sheds a whole new light on Valentine's Day and the idea of gratitude even in the darkest of situations. We can learn a lot from Saint Valentine. I hope you do not put off sending a valentine or letter of appreciation to the people you love (or admire) until you're imprisoned (literally or figuratively) or nearly dead. I defeinitely do not want you to have a death bed confession session, no matter how dramatic you may be. Tell them now how you feel so you can live for today and be happy and more grateful. As always, I have homework for you. Choose someone who motivated or inspired you. Grab a pen and paper, because handwritten notes are more heartfelt and a lost art, and start writing your letter of gratitude; tell them how they pulled you from darkness, or gave you a little more to smile about one day. Perhaps they gave your current career a jump start. You'll be happier whether you send it or not. And you know, why not spread the love by sending it? It will give you an opportunity to fulfill your important task. A gratitude letter, however short, sure beats a 99 cent card printed and purchased in bulk. Plus, the people who have positively impacted your life will be grateful to know their lives have made a difference! I am asking you to do it now, while there is still time to write and send that special "valentine." Want to have more time, energy, and money right now? Find out how with Dr. Barnsley's fantabulous, must-read report, "How to Overcome Overwhelm in Seven Easy Steps." Click: http://spirited-solutions.com/freebies/reports/
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happiness, gratitude, positive psychology, valentine,
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