The color RED

Been seeing a lot of red lately....no, not getting angry or mad....been actually seeing a lot of the color RED lately. In stores, on the television, on the Internet....all related to the merchandise being sold for Valentine's Day. Red heart shaped boxes selling chocolates, red teddy bears, red pillows....even saw bath towels with little red hearts in the aisle selling Valentine's Day merchandise. Yes, there is a blatant commercialization of this day....and a lot of pressure to find the right gifts. But it is here to stay....even schools celebrate it....I myself helped my son make heart shaped greeting cards yesterday for his classmates. Today, February 14th....Valentine's Day....the day love is celebrated....symbolized by red hearts.

Interestingly, the American Heart Association has a 'Go Red for Women' movement, a passionate and emotional social initiative designed to empower women to take charge of their heart health since heart disease is the number one cause of death among women 20 and older killing about one woman every minute. So, I am going to use today....Valentine's Day....the day of hearts to list out the symptoms of a heart attack and stroke as mentioned on the American Heart Association's website.

Symptoms of a heart attack:

1. Chest discomfort - Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
2. Discomfort in other areas of the upper body - Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
3. Shortness of breath - with or without chest discomfort.
4. Other signs - may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.

Symptoms of a stroke:

1. Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body.
2. Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.
3. Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
4. Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or co-ordination.
5. Sudden severe headache with no known cause.

So, take care of your heart but more importantly take care of and treasure all the loved ones you have in your heart....because finally, they are all that matter. And whether you celebrate today with gifts or no gifts, flowers or no flowers, chocolates or no chocolates, whether you choose to say it with diamonds or with one single rose or just simply with words, whether you are near the ones you love or far, whether in fact you don't celebrate today at all....there is no denying that today the ones you love....the ones in your heart....are for sure on your mind as well....as you think of them and be thankful that they are in your life.

Signing off knowing that today love is definitely 'in the air' and these passing thoughts

Love is closeness....but love is also giving each other space.

Love is being able to talk non-stop....but love is also that comfortable silence.

Love is being content when you are happy....but love is also that shoulder to cry on when you are sad.

Love is a skipped heart beat....but love also makes your heart beat rapidly.

Love is sunshine....but love is also that rain that drenches you completely.

Love wipes your tears....and love brings a smile to your face.

Happy Valentine's Day!