A Jolt from Jill

by Jill Rumbley-Beam

It’s a new year and love is in the air! That means there’s a loving atmosphere all around. When you think of Valentine’s, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Chocolate? Bouquet of flowers? A nice dinner for two? Hallmark cards?

Where did this so-called holiday begin? A legend tells that St. Valentine of Terni, had officiated weddings for Roman soldiers, in secret, going against Emperor Claudius II wishes, which means that St. Valentine was a proponent of love.

Valentines became commercialized, however, in the 19th Century. Victorian men started wooing their women with flowers. Richard Cadbury created the first heart-shaped box of chocolates. The mother of Valentine’s, Esther Howland, only in her 20’s, popularized store-bought Valentines. By early 1910, an American company that would one day become Hallmark began distributing its more official Valentine’s Day cards.

So where did Cupid come from? In Roman mythology, Cupid was the son of Venus, a goddess of love and beauty. He was known for shooting arrows at both gods and humans, causing them to fall in love.

It’s a new year, so let’s be more loving! Here’s my advice to you:

V-be more vibrant. Try to energize yourself and create mor energy, excitement and vividness! Be a shining light wherever you go. Be that person that walks into a room and all eyes are you!

A-be more adaptable. We must deal with change all the time and I’ve only found one person that likes change is a baby with a wet diaper. Deal with change. You can’t change it!

L-be more laughable. Be the joke teller in your social groups. Everyone loves to laugh, and laughter makes you feel good and healthier. When you laugh, you create endorphins that help relieve pain, reduce stress, and improve your mood.

E-be more enthusiastic. Act enthusiastic, even if you don’t feel like it. Find and pursue your passion. Cultivate a positive mind set. Surround yourself with positive people and take care of your physical health.

N-be more neighborly. Be friendly and respectful to everyone. Introduce yourself when you don’t know someone. Have a kind, considerate and trustworthy presence in any surrounding you find yourself in.

T-be more thankful. Practice gratitude daily. Keep a journal of things you are thankful for. Reflect on your blessings daily. Give back and verbally acknowledge your gratitude. When you do this, you will rewire your brain for more positivity.

I-be more innovative. Cultivate curiosity and observe opportunities. Being innovative isn’t just having big ideas. It’s a process of questioning and working to solve problems. Be open to change and be adaptable.

N-be neat. Focus on putting things away. Declutter. Make your bed. That’s the first task you should accomplish every day. Build routines of being neat. Maintain order. This will make you feel better every day.

E-be educated. Engage in thoughtful discussions. Learn a new skill or maybe a new language. Foster curiosity every day. Connect daily and be well rounded. Be that always adaptable person.

Now that you have your Valentine’s resolutions, create your action plan and manage each step.

Do you remember when we were in elementary school, and we brought a brown paper bag with our Valentine’s to school? Each child would put a Valentine in another bag. Making sure every person had one.

I challenge you to take each letter of the word Valentine that I gave you and put them in a brown paper bag. Draw one of the letters out and pursue what that letter displays. You will be a better person, every day!

Who remembers this?

Valentine, Valentine

Red and Blue

Valentine, Valentine

I love you!

And I really do!

Hugs and kisses!

Love,

Jill