Today is Remember the Love Day, my personal holiday. I picked this date to coincide with something important in my history because until recently I would have allowed it to be a pretty dark day. Beyond that, I'd rather not get into the specifics. I will say this, recently I realized that endings are not the defining point I had always believed them to be.

Although my experiences are far less than a man my age should have due mostly to my shyness, still they have been enough for me to see a mistake of my past. I had always said I have never been in love because even though I have given my heart on numerous occasions no one has ever loved me back and that is a big mistake. I allowed the pain of parting to color all things in the relationship. When you do that, every kindness you've been given becomes suspect and just another piece of evidence in your gullibility. It becomes a bitter taste in your mouth that you quickly learn to discard as you move on in life. You think it is a worthless piece of baggage that you throw to the side, but in doing that you make it a another ball and chain fastened to your leg that slows your progress and wears you down.

Today, the first Remember the Love Day, I acknowledge that I *have* known love. I have given it freely and I have been loved back. Yes, I have been subjected to some pretty terrible partings; some of which would quite literally be straight out of a soap opera. I have known some women that I gave my heart to that really were just making use of me to meet their own needs and even with them, I was loved. I can say that now with confidence because I know that even if they were with me for their own reasons, I truly believe that the reason they were with me then instead of someone else is because the Good Lord knew that it was a time in my life that I needed to feel loved.

So today is my day to reflect on the women that have been in my heart in the past... Not to judge them, hold them accountable for perceived wrongs, dredge up feelings of desire, or wish for what could have been. I won't even print their names or what happened here. I am simply going to thank them for the love they gave and pray that the Good Lord is with them on their path through life.

Well, I doubt that Hallmark is going to pick up my little holiday. I can't see Remember the Love cards floating around the world but this one means more to me than Valentines Day for sure. I hope it is a good day for all and that the memories of Love are treasures for you all @};-