Happy Valentines Day!

Today is Hilly's third annual self-love day a/k/a Pink Day. Here's the deal:

1. Head over to Hilly's site and grab yourself a banner (I'm too lazy to add the links here, sorry).

2. Post a banner on your site and then tell us all something that you really like/love about yourself (thus, the “self-love” portion of the program).

3. Ask or beg your readers to post one thing that they too love about you!!! If your blog friends are nice, you shouldn’t have to beg…much.

4. Enjoy yourself and spread the love by doing this on your blog!

5. Drop me (and Hilly) a line or a trackback so we know you participated too!

I've never been a big fan of this Hallmark holiday even though I'm lucky enough to have had the same Valentine for the past XXVI years (yes, I was just a young teen when we met). I'm thankful I get some good lovin' regularly but I tend to be pretty hard on myself so let's see if I can work on this self-love thing.

Ummm ... I've been sitting here staring at the screen for a while now trying to think of things I love about myself ... why is it so hard? The other type of self-love is so much easier ;).

Ok, I guess I can come up with a few things:

I love being adventurous and trying new things. Hey, I've even been bungee jumping. There is something about getting out of your comfort zone and doing something scary and new. You really feel like you're alive when your heart is racing even if you also feel like you're going to wet yourself.

I'm very accepting of people's faults for the most part. I love them for who they are and don't expect or want them to change. Of course, I'm not so accepting of my own faults but I'm working on that. Just because a person tells me someone is a b*tch/b*stard/!#$%, I don't just jump on their hate bandwagon. I make my own decision based on how the person treats me not on the stories I've heard about them. The exception to this is when someone has been abusive to someone I love, in that case they are dead to me.

I will do almost anything for my friends and family and even strangers in need. I try to be helpful if I see someone struggling or overloaded. It drives some of my friends crazy when I take the time to stop and offer directions when I see people looking lost staring at a map. I work in a city full of tourists and they're usually minutes away from the tourist traps but can't figure out where they are because all the maps are so hard to read. The tourists are always so appreciative when someone takes the time to offer assistance and I think it leaves a good impression of the city that we're not all stressed out rats running the race.

I'm extremely generous, sometimes more than I can afford to be. I love buying things or doing things for someone "just because." I don't wait for a birthday or special occasion to give someone a gift or even a small token to brighten their day and let them know I was thinking of them. I honestly enjoy giving more than receiving so I guess this is a little selfish on my part.

Physically, I love my blue eyes which have a darker ring around the iris. I love the way they change different shades of blue depending on the mood I'm in or what color I'm wearing. I'm not sure if it's a blessing or a curse but people can usually tell how I'm feeling by looking in my eyes. I love that no matter how much weight I gain or lose my eyes are always bright and blue.

I'm not going to put my handful of readers on the spot to show me some love but I encourage you to show a little self-love. If this kind of self-love doesn't work for you, you can always try the other kind :).

Hugs and kisses to you all. Try not to be sad if you don't have a Valentine (you can be mine), flowers and chocolates are overrated, well, maybe not chocolate, chocolate is always good.

Happy Valentines/Pink Day!