19-year old Emma Roberts, one of the stars of “Valentine’s Day”, told TV host Jay Leno that she was planning to spend her own Valentine’s Day with her friends. Leno pressed her to be more explicit about the boyfriend status, and she revealed that, although she had one “this year”, she was still going to spend the special evening with her girlfriends eating chocolate and having a party. It is something she loves to do every year.
This year, Valentine’s Day and the beginning of the Chinese Year of the Tiger fall on the same day, February 14 – an unusual occurrence. The traditions of Chinese New Year call for celebration, for being with family and friends, and for welcoming in the hope and energy of a New Year. It is a time to forgive and forget the past, and especially to let go of clutter, both physical and emotional, which holds us from our true joy. So, on Sunday clean your house – and connect with those people who make you smile!!
I find it helpful to learn about the meaning cultures other than my own attach to particular dates, and how the convention of a calendar can be used to organize our understanding of time in a different manner. Here in New England as we approach the middle of February and the daylight is beginning to linger a bit longer, I somehow feel more ready (than I did on January 1st) to welcome the energy of the new year and to let go of emotional and physical clutter. Thank you for the inspiration, Susan.
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