On this day of I’m reminded that love can be portrayed in diverse ways; admiration, courtship, commitment, sharing or even the hope of love.
Likewise, I’m prompted to recall that friendships can be packaged and parceled in the most obscure and opaque ways.Knowingly or unknowingly, as a younger version of myself I had criteria and a checklist of qualities and merits a person must possess in order to pursue a friendship as well as an agenda of dos and don’ts the individual revealed. As an example, a person couldn’t be a smoker, or they mustn’t swear, they had to enjoy children. Blah, blah, blah…narrow-minded indeed!
While many reasons can be attributed (immaturity, stupidity, futility…), the most fundamental and straightforward one is we fear what we don’t understand. I don’t beat myself up because I believe in the saying, ‘when we know better, we do better!’
At this stage in life, I adore and admire each and every individual from mere acquaintances, ones I’ve never met but shared words via blogs to close friends to significant loved ones. Regardless of the distinct role each of you embodies or signifies for me, I am thankful and filled with much love and gratitude.
"Much of the vitality in a friendship lies in the honoring of differences, not simply in the enjoyment of similarities."
Happy Valentine’s Day~
39 comments:
Happy Valentines Day to you too!!! I hope your day is full of smiles, happiness and sweet stuff!! ...debbie
A very Happy Valentines Day to you, Tracy! Enjoy all the sweetness of the day in whatever form it shows up!!
Sylvia
Love this post! Very thoughtful! I always think diversity in all its manifestations are cause for celebration! These differences are what makes people unique and individual!
Happy Valentine's Day! Take care
x
Happy Valentines Day to you!
Here's to love in all of it's forms! Happy Valentine's Day!
that first image is too cute...
As I look at chocalate this morning and wonder if it is too early, I hope you have a great Valentines.
So glad I finally came over to take a look. You are filled with love and wisdom. Happy V-tines to you <3
a/b
Indeed! Happy Valentines day!
Happy Valentine's Day to you, Tracy! Here's to all kinds of love today!
Yes, our differences should be celebrated! Happy Valentine's Day to you and yours!
Wise words beautifully spoken, I couldn't agree more :o)
Happy Valetines Day to you and your wonderful family x
A very insightful post.
I am happy to call you friend here in the good ol' blogosphere.
Happy Valentines Day.
Hugs,
Penny
Hello Tracy, thank you for visiting my blog today. I enjoyed reading the wise words of your post...I myself find I love more freely at this stage in my life than I ever did before... age must have some benefit after all - LOL!!!
Happy Valentine's Day :-)
Wishing you a great day! Everyday we learn something new!
Rita
Oh that first picture is just priceless!!!
Yep, we girls make our lists for our perfect match. Sometimes God has different ideas.
I'd ask myself a question before I'd date a fellow. "If we married, what would our children look like." I had a thing about not havin' ugly children...I was shallow that way.
I grew up! Heeehehehhee!!!
God bless ya and have a wonderful Valentine's Day!!! :o)
So true! I have been blessed by many friends. Some that I see regularly, some that I keep in contact with over the miles and so many new friends through blogging.
Happy Valentine's Day to you and yours!!
Best,
Bonnie
Happy Valentine's Day Blogger Friend. :-)
Love the elephant and the little girl. Pretty much sums up what you so aptly stated. We just all need to know better.
Happy Valentine's Day to you all!!
I hope you and your son are enjoying your mini break from school
Hugs Madi and Mom
Oh I love that picture. That is so perfect. More people need to see a picture like that. I feel the same way. There is something in everyone that we can try to like. I used to love to have parties in my younger days, with people from all kinds of different lives. So much fun. Happy Valentines day.
Happy Valentines Day to you too!
Wonderful post Tracy. It helps me to remember that we ~all~ are somebody's ~child~!
I was just the opposite as a kid--open to anyone who wanted to be my friend. You know what? Both ways have their drawbacks... :o) It's good that we can grow and learn, and happy V'day to you, too! :o) <3
What a wonderful post for Valentine's Day! And I agree with everything you say! Ella LOVES elephants, so I think I will print this picture for her, It is amazing! Happy Valentine's Day!
Wise words and a good reminder to look for the good in everyone we meet...if we look for it we will usually find it.
Happy Valentine's Day to you.
I've always been a live and let live kinda person, so this post makes alot of sense to me. We all have our skeletons and vices -- and I'm glad to have met you here Tracy. Happy Valentine's Day! :)
Isn't growing older and wiser wonderful Tracy. I LOVED this beautiful post!!!!!
sending many hugs...
A sweet thoughtful post and the two pix are great!...:)JP
Tracy,
What a great post....I think we all think in limitations at one point or another but the important thing is that with God's help we grow to love more freely. I know that has been the case with me....
I love the top picture...especially now that I have gained some weight I can identify...hahah
I have so enjoyed getting to know you and appreciate all your sweet comments you have left on my blog...both of us being from NC, we need to plan a meeting....
Happy Love Day to you....
This post sends a great message.
I hope your day was sweet.
Cute post. love the pic in the beginning.
Tracy this is a wonderful Valentine's post.
I hope your day was filled with nothing but Love
Love ya
Maggie
I really hope you had a lovely day yesterday. Big hugs. :)
You are absolutely right. Love can be for any one, human beings and animals and birds alike, and can be expressed in any form or action.
Happy Valentine's day:)
Hi There, Just stopping by to say HI.... Hope you had a great Valentine's Day. We had a great trip--but it's nice to get home. I'm trying to catch up on some blog posts...
Great post, Tracy. I think we all have our lists of what we want in a person in our lives.. I think that is just normal to do this... I know that when I met George, he certainly met all of the things I had on my long list...
But--like you said, we do need to be open to people who are 'different' from us.. We can learn from them, can't we???
Hugs,
Betsy
I do hope you had a lovely and loving Valentines Day. I to believe diversity is a great educator.
Thoughtful words and great for Valentine's Day :) Hope your day was extra special!
Love really is grand. Hope you had a happy V-day
xo jj
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