Like many holidays, Valentine’s Day has become commercialized. But there’s much more to Valentine’s Day than that. Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be exclusively about romance. Instead it offers an opportunity to reflect upon and develop a deeper appreciation of ourselves and the others in our lives. Many people find it hard to express their emotions, to be vulnerable to others. Hence, the commercialism of Valentine’s Day. Let’s face it, buying a card someone else designed and wrote, flowers and some chocolate is really taking the easy way out emotionally. But developing a deeper appreciation of ourselves and others is what it takes to create fulfilling relationships. I recently attended a seminar discussing how to better engage and serve men in therapy. Later, while doing some research on the topic, I came across this timely article written by Dr. Edward Reitman and published five years ago today. It’s entitled, Valentine’s Day Benefits. Rather than reinvent the wheel, I encourage you to read it for yourself. Here’s the link: http://jhvonline.com/valentines-day-benefits-p16690-153.htm

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