Dr Pratiksha Gandhi MD is based in Los Angeles, California, and is the founder of the nonprofit, The Global Foundation of Preventive Cardiology. The following is her thoughts on Valentine’s Day.
Whom are we sending cards to? Are we going for a dinner date? Planning to buy jewelry ? Our mind gets crowded with so many things to do for Valentine’s Day. Suddenly there is a global frenzy of expressing love with so much material exchange of gifts and goodies.
Did you know?
The U.S. National Census calculates that Americans consume nearly 3.5 million tons of candy annually and a large portion of this is purchased for Valentine’s Day.
According to the Floral Index, 110 million roses are sold in the U.S. on Valentine’s Day and Americans spend $18 billion on other gifts.
There are many stories related to the origins of this day and it being associated with Saint Valentine. It’s all about spreading love and affection.
As a heart health expert and leading Global Foundation for Preventive Cardiology, I have always believed that unconditional love and support helps heal the heart. It makes our heart stronger in terms of our physical, mental, and emotional health. My concern is the amount of candies, chocolates, and sugar we distribute to spread love. Is it worth your heart health ?
Can we celebrate the occasion in the spirit of love by spending quality time with our loved ones rather than binging on unhealthy foods and financial worries on buying expensive gifts? Many people have reported they even feel loved or not loved depending on the gift they receive from their partners. Are we going to determine our self worth with the gifts we receive?
Television and media can be a pest so as to corrupt healthy thinking if we follow them blindly. We have to apply practical wisdom to our traditions and celebrate them with our individual choice of what is right for us. Most people do things just to fit in the crowd even if their hearts don’t agree. When one doesn’t follow the heart and do things to please others, one often suffers with heart ailment because of lack of joy in their lives.
So please ask yourself this question:
What does Valentine’s Day mean to you? I mean you personally. And not what is being fed to you from outside sources.
Close your eyes and ask yourself with what truth you resonate. Then follow your heart! That would be the best gift you would give to your forever Valentine—your own self. Yes, dear friends, human love is transient and ever changing. If we don’t cultivate a relationship with our own self we will always be seeking outside and at mercy of others to give us happiness.
All the love and light is within you! Meditate and know this truth.
We have been told “Love one another” or share the love of God with one and all. Meditation helps us to expand our consciousness from individual love limited to partners or family to people all over the world. I would urge you to spread unconditional love to one and all. Instead of blowing money on unhealthy foods and expensive gifts, spend it on unknown people in a charity you believe in as you love humanity. Selfless unconditional love brings a lot of peace and harmony in your being and promotes heart health. With this sending lots of love, hugs, peace and light to everyone on this planet who needs it.
