@the_northstar 12 February 2022

My Take On Val... Sometime last week, I was at a church gathering and myself and other teenagers were playing a question and answer game. Then someone asked, "what's your take on val?" We all took turns sharing our different, nice and funny opinions about val. There and then, I knew I had to write about it.

My Thoughts. I think valentine's day celebration is more than just a "couple's thing". It shouldn't only revolve around people showing their undying love for their romantic partners. Yes, you should shower your partner with love. Definitely. But have it in mind that you could do more. When last did you take your parents out for dinner? When last did you hangout with your siblings? When last did you do something nice for a neighbour? You see.. more. There are people out there who are actually really lonely and we all know how hard it is to deal with loneliness sometimes. There are people who have lost a loved one or two to the virus. There are people who are finding it hard to heal from a heartbreak and it's taking a toll on their mental health. There are so many people in need of a simple act of love. Q: How can I show love to people on valentine's day?

A: There are so many beautiful, special ways you could show love to people. You could... 1. Spend quality time with your loved ones. Be it your parents, spouse, siblings or children. Just spend time laughing, chatting and having fun with them. 2. Check on your elderly neighbour. Visit them and ask how they're fairing. You could even get them a present, if you want to. 3. Donate money to a charity organization or a cause you really care about. 4. Give out belongings you no longer use to people who you think might really be in need of them. 5. Put a call across to that friend that you haven't heard from in a while. 6. Mend a broken relationship you have with someone. 7. Take time to appreciate your friends and maybe even hangout with them. 8. Genuinely lend a listening ear to someone in need of it. 9. Run an errand or perform a chore for someone. 10. Prepare a meal for someone. 11. Play games or see a movie with your siblings. 12. Display random gestures of kindness. Give compliments to people, smile whenever you make an eye contact with someone on the street, pay for someone's lunch, help an elderly person cross the expressway. The little things aren't so little.

Bear in mind that these are things that we can do anytime, anyday. We can show love to people on other days too, not just valentine's. Here's a challenge I came up with. Everybody can participate. On Valentine's day, express your love and gratitude to at least 3 people. Tell them why you love them and how grateful you are for them. The Lead image and last image were gotten from unsplash.com. The other two were designed and shot by me. ©the_northstar