Tell someone they matter today

​Here is a general definition of Valentine's Day: a day when it is traditional to send a card, often anonymously, to a person one is romantically involved with or attracted to.

The not so anonymous conclusion many will walk away with on this holiday: no one wants to be involved with me.

Or, maybe - I don't matter.

I'm a big fan of Valentine's Day. I'm a big fan of any occasion that reminds us to show affection. I celebrate any day that celebrates love.

But I am also mindful in this world of social media, where those celebrations will be celebrated less anonymously than ever, that many onlookers are going to conclude that since they aren't included in the celebrations, they aren't included in love.

I spent time talking to a group yesterday about the reality that more people than ever feel left out. More people than ever feel alone. More people than ever are left wondering if they matter.

Most of them quickly concluding that they don't. Which for many will make this a challenging day.

I listened to someone talking about mindfulness yesterday. And she said one way to practice mindful living with the person in your life is to try to notice three things about that person each day that you had never noticed before.

Today would be a great day to make it a point to notice just one thing about someone. Notice it and point it out. Point it out to them as a reason they matter.

Because the reality is, most people will appreciate the flowers they get today. Most people will love the chocolates (who wouldn't love chocolate ?!?!). But many people, if not every person, would gladly skip it all for the chance to know they matter.

Let someone know that they matter today. Someone you suspect may not so anonymously be left wondering if they do.

The really big bright side to that request, it will be a whole lot cheaper than flowers and chocolates.

If you are reading this, Happy Valentine's Day.

You were created by a God who decided you mattered long before you were born. Nothing will ever say you matter more than that.

But it never hurts to hear it, so I will say it: you matter.

There is nothing anonymous about it.