GIFT OF LOVE by Carolyn Riker

Valentine’s Day is a mixed day for me…

Almost always has been. I find the glam rather disheartening. The long waits for a dinner out. The overly priced roses stuffed in black plastic bins. Chocolate in heart-shapes. (All chocolate is the shape of a heart.) So I rewrote an old poem and made it a love letter for you as well as me:

Dear Sweet Beautiful Spirit,
Happy Valentine’s Day! I embrace you. You capture the magic of self-love in your velvety tenderness. I will hold you dearly and respect who you are. You are love and in this love your heart blooms! I know it’s been a voyage of challenges. I’ve listened to your saline mist. Let’s wear a new ribbon of blushing pink and ravishing red. Let’s emblaze self-love as a personal gift.

Gift of Love

You are loved.

Look inward and believe it.

Dance to the rhythm of your heart.

Feel your breath rise and fall.

It wraps a sensuous melody.

You are more than okay.

Sing joyfully.

Let go of self-doubt and what-ifs.

Let your inner confidence shine.

You are strong.

You are amazing, creative, intelligent…

and beautiful.

Dance in this new moment.

Let the pulse radiant.

You are love,

touching the sky and seas.

Let it begin with the self,

and the universe will hold your hand.

You are never alone.

Because,

You are love.

Carolyn (Riker) Avalani, M.A., LMHC is a licensed counselor, teacher, writer and poet. Over the last five years she has written for numerous online journals and has been in five anthologies. Her most recent book This is Love was published June 2018. Before that she contributed and co-edited, Hidden Lights: A Collection of Truths Not Often Told, which holds 53 artists sharing their stories, poems, art and photography. Her first book of poetry and prose, Blue Clouds was published December 2016. Between sips of coffee, navigating life with copious writing and daydreaming, Carolyn offers creative writing workshops, coaching and private counseling. To find out more please visit her website at www.carolynriker.com or on facebook here.

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