The eyes of love...

You can see everything with the eyes of love.  You can be aware that there is love all around you.

--- Don Miguel Ruiz ---

In popular culture, this day is typically reserved for people to share their love and compassion with one another.  Is love even possible to define?  Love comes in many forms: there is romantic love, unconditional love, platonic love.  Kids exchange valentines in school, friends, relatives, and partners exchange gifts, but I believe that the best gift you can give yourself this Valentines day is to remember to see with eyes of love.  I believe it's true that there is love all around, all we have to do is look for it, or open our eyes to it.  One way to start seeing with eyes of love, is to think about all the things you appreciate and are grateful for in this lifetime.  The more you list, the more you feel.  It's hard to feel fear, anger, frustration, disappointment, when you are listing the things in life for which you are most grateful.  At times, it's necessary to acknowledge the difficulties in life on a personal and global level - but despite how easy or how challenging things may be, seeing with the eyes of love can be an extremely powerful process.  Happy valentines day!

The remedy for love...

There is no remedy for Love, but to love more.

--- Henry David Thoreau ---

In anticipation of next week's love-filled, love overloaded day, I share this quote with a touch of irony that it so elegantly presents.  Before we even saw the Christmas trees and decorations come down off of the store shelves, Valentines Day paraphernalia was everywhere.  It's hard not to get overwhelmed by the twisted messages about love and relationships that we receive through the media, but it's important to remember we always have a choice.  We decide what things mean, where we spend our $, how we spend our time, and how to react to the over-consumption of products and gifts on a day that is supposed to be about love.  I LOVE this quote because it can be interpreted in so many different ways, and for very specific situations (i.e. a broken heart), but I like to say it's to remind us that love is the answer for pretty much everything.  Rather than condemning all that we see that we don't like, it is refreshing and re-invigorating to find love in the most unlikely of places.  Start with love for yourself and move outward from there.  As they say, love conquers all :)

There is nothing like a dream...

There is nothing like a dream to create the future.

--- Victor Hugo ---

Today is the day!!  Mark - I love you with all my heart and every part of my being.  I am so excited and blessed to take this next step in life with you - and look forward to everything that is in store for us.  I also look forward to creating an amazing life with you (which, I have to say, I think we've already done quite a good job doing already).  This has been our quote all along in the planning process and I think it's the perfect message for us to remember where our goals, accomplishments, and proudest moments stem from.  It starts with imagination and the ability to dream about new possibilities.  Together anything is possible.  May we all have the courage to dream big.

We love because...

We love because it is the only true adventure.

--- Nikki Giovanni ---

Wow!!!! It's just days before what they call the 'big day' for me and my significant other, and I am overwhelmed with excitement, love, admiration, hope, and happiness.  Today kicks off the festivities with family coming into town for dinner, and I can't help but feeling blessed about everything.  While I'm not going to sensationalize and say that every step of the planning was picture perfect (although it was pretty close :), the little blips are just that - blips - in comparison to the fact that I found someone who I am SO thrilled to share life's ups/downs, hopes, and dreams with.  We recently completed a big adventure in life earlier this year, by circumnagivating the globe together on a floating university program called, Semester at Sea, and this quote sings to me not only for the reference to adventure - but for the connection and feeling of love - between friends, family, lovers, strangers in a foreign land, and all others - that really provides us with life's most treasured moments.  I am bursting with excitement, and cannot wait for the big day.  Let the countdown begin!

What the world really needs...

What the world really needs is more LOVE and less paperwork.

--- Pearl Bailey ---

It's simple, really.  It's Monday... the day when most folks head back to the office, and drudge through piles of paperwork, that in reality and in the grand scheme of things has very little significance or meaning in life.   While, yes, it is sometimes a necessary thing that has to be dealt with, this quote is dedicated to all those looking for a reason to focus on something else.   Love is the most powerful thing in the world, and if you follow it long enough in your heart, all good things will come :)

Be kind to...

Be kind to yourself.  Begin to love and approve of yourself.

--- Louise Hay ---

Oh what a lovely quote.  It's so simple, yet so profound.  It's a great mantra.  Louise Hay is one of the most influential writers in the self-help industry and revolutionized the way people look at personal development.  I was introduced to Louise's work through none other than the guru of this genre of self-help, Oprah.  I know many people say this, but I wasn't a regular viewer, and caught a few episodes here or there, but there was something about the one highlighting Louise that made me pause.  This quote is one of the most fundamental things we must all do in order to 'live our best lives' as "O" would say.  Louise's books are heart-warming, gentle, and a great reminder to remember that we all have our own power within.

On a related note, I recently had lunch with an outstanding graduating senior from Stanford, and I asked her what were some of the biggest lessons she learned in her time on campus.  The first thing she said was, 'to be kind to myself.'  She shared the story of her experience attending the "Happiness Conference" on campus and one speaker who really stuck with her.  It comes down to treating yourself with love, kindness, and compassion.  

Be a little more kind to yourself today and everyday, and see what happens! 

The best and most beautiful things...

The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or touched, 

they must be felt by the heart. 

 --- Helen Keller ---

This is one of the first quotes I remember being absolutely captivated by in college.  I loved the idea and the context in which it was quoted to Helen Keller.  I remember reading this quote and beginning to get the feeling that there was much more to life than meets the eye, and that if you really look for the beauty in things, you will find them.  I also remember being enthralled with the idea that the best and most beautiful things in the world were not 'things' but feelings and emotions that touched us.  It's not necessarily that the 'thing' has no beauty or is unimportant, but it is that we give meaning to the things in our life as well as the beauty that we feel.

As you look back on your life...

You will find, as you look back on your life, that the moments when you have really lived are the moments when you have done things in the spirit of love.

--- Henry Drummond ---

The only true adventure...

We love because it's the only true adventure.

--- Nikki Giovanni (wikipedia) ---

I posted this quote on this day (May 14) for my friends Michelle and Paul who got married in Palm Springs.  It was a beautiful wedding, with heartfelt sentiments, and friends and family glowing with love.  Congratulations to you both!