Valentine's Day Ecovillage Style

I've never really believed in Valentine's Day. The "Hallmark Day"... No point really, when you live "out there". Sure, Paul and I would "try". It never ended well. One way or another the expectation of a perfect romantic day would always crumble into either a screaming match- or a crying match... Or a scream and cry match.

The restaurants are full, the flowers are expensive, and the expectation is huge of that ONE significant other. Try as they might, you'll be let down.

So we had given up on Valentine's Day. I think a lot of realists and visionaries do. Apart from the continuous freak out about hand made cards for school parties, we've given up entirely.

Until today.

Today, every time I opened my front door, a new goodie had appeared! Today neighbours young and old brought my family chocolates, notes of appreciation, thank you cards, cookies, a hand-made door knocker, gourmet Angel Kiss.

Every hour or so I was delighted with appreciation from my neighbours. So much so that we just had to share in the joy of giving. My children and I set out to decorate organic lollipops I bought from Winners last week with paper cut out hearts.

They were filled with GLEE to take them door to door.

Then, I went for a walk with my two year old through the town of Yarrow. What I saw made me run home for my camera...

Even Hank, the barber in Yarrow for 68 years, was amazed....

Someone had Art Attacked Yarrow!
Hank's Wooly Heart door....

He though it was for his birthday!

Outside the Vedder Grill it was written in Chalk "Yummy Fries!"

Rain Proof Shiny Hearts hung all over Yarrow Central Road...

I recognize the door knocker.... I got the same one, But from who????? This was not an ecovillage initiative!

What is "Greenall"? A calling card?

MCC ladies were gleeful at the decorated store front. One shouted "We should call The Progress!"

This proves the attack was well thought out.
My two year old was in awe... pulling at the hearts in flower pots... excited by every out of place piece!

Post Office Mobile blowing in the wind.

This says it all!

The Park Monument looked like a chocolate shop!

The trees in the park.
This gives you an idea...
Wow! What a place to live. The magic of such inspiration makes it easy to want to give back. I think today built on itself. One inspiration after another. Living somewhere where people give a tiny bit of their very best does two things; it tells you that a little bit is enough, and it makes you willing to give. Simple.

Not all of today was awesome. In fact parts were really hard. I- being human- really screwed up. (More than once.) I got to a point where I just couldn't smile anymore, and I fought with a neighbour. It was the first time I have even been really angry here. I yelled. People don't often yell here. I saw red. I was horrible to my neighbour about something that seems very small now. I'm embarrassed that I yelled. Truth be told I couldn't hold it in anymore. Sometimes living here gets the best of you. Sometimes living here makes you be someone you don't like to be. Truth be told we're still human.

At the end of the day. My neighbour (that I foolishly yelled at) and I will be okay. We may even be better off. At the end of the day, the most special thing about being here is that the people around me forgive my human-ness. And because of that, I hopefully grow.

So, sometimes it is really good to live here. And minutes later it can really suck. And minutes after that it can be really good to live here all over again. The key is a willingness to be whole- hearted. It sure beats Grey's Anatomy!

So Thank you Groundswell. Thanks for reviving my belief in a day for love and hearts. Thanks to Greater Yarrow for filling my day with smiles. Thanks to my husband for the surprise chocolates on my pillow. If the point of Valentine's Day is Love... We got the message loud and clear today.

Happy Valentine's Day!