February 1st usually starts with a sigh and a “Wow, I never thought January would end!” We have gone from the longest month straight into the shortest. That right there makes the first two months of the year stand out. There is something special about February. Ok, yes, it is my birthday month and one of my sons. Lots to celebrate. And if you are a sappy soul, it is the month of love. Some people wait all year just for February to show others how they feel. Shouldn’t we do that every month? Do those gestures have to be grand or do the small ones leave the biggest impact? My husband has been opening the car door for me for over 31 years. It doesn’t cost anything. He doesn’t need to make any special arrangements or reservations, he just does it. To quote one of my favorite movies, Love Actually, “If you look for it, I’ve got a sneaky feeling you’ll find that love, actually, is all around.” So where is it? For me, it is the car door. What about you? There is love between spouses. Love between a parent and child. Love between friends. Love for your animals. It is when you are in bed and someone brings you coffee. It is calling a friend. Making them laugh and being there when they are not laughing. It is the first hug you give a loved one you have not seen in a while. It is the smile you give the stranger that opened the door for you or the simple act of opening the door for a stranger. It is picking up the newspaper (for the ones who still get it) that is lying on the sidewalk as you walk up to ring the doorbell of the house you are visiting. It is lying on the couch with your dog or cat on you and not moving because you do not want to disturb them. It is knowing you are going to walk into the bathroom, see that the toilet paper roll is empty, the new roll is sitting on top of it, and you just chuckle and change it instead of rolling your eyes. It is making sure you have your kids favorite things in the fridge when they come home from school. It is taking time for you. It is learning to love you, so you can love others better. February in Texas is usually when the coldest temperatures hit. As cold as it may get, this unique month also knows how to bring out the warmth in us. With your heart and eyes open, it is easy to see that love is actually all around us. And that love can last all year.
