Feeling the love?

I can't say that I've ever really LOVED Valentine's Day. I find it too in your face, too soppy and too celebratory of something which not everyone has.

I remember the days in secondary school, when everyone was having their first boyfriends, kisses in the corner and the inevitable discos where try hards would act sexy. I had a fair few Valentines days without a boyfriend then, and I felt like the loneliest person in the world.

I think that this Valentine's Day, we should think about the people who are lonely and do our best to make them happy.

It's all well and good to celebrate the love of two people who have been together for a while - and I am very happy to do that while my relationship is so successful - but to reach out to those people who are only reminded of those they could have had or those they have lost is something altogether more special.

Since going to uni, I've felt sorry for my mum. She isn't seeing anyone, and wasn' t when we left. The both of us leaving so suddenly must have been difficult for her to cope with, and she must have felt so alone. So this year I'll be trying to make her happy.

I think that she will really appreciate the simple gesture of kindness, and I hope that when others do the same, it will not go unnoticed.

Why it pays to stop and think

Sometimes, when I'm on my own, just thinking, I listen to the clocks ticking. Their constant counting of seconds reminds me that we all have a certain amount of time in this world, and that it's worth making the most of.

It makes me think of the years I have already spent and what I have done with them. Admittedly there were no world altering changes in there, but I am proud of how I have grown as a person and what I have achieved for myself so far.

For example, I (and my twin along with me) am the first in my family to get through the first year of university, and the second to actually get in to uni. I know this doesn't seem like a big achievement, but I am proud knowing that those before me have failed where I have succeeded, and therefore my hard work and determination this year paid off.

When I lie back and watch those little clock arms go ceaselessly clockwise, I also think about what else I have to offer, and this time not just myself, but everyone else. I have so much time ahead of me to be able to make a difference. I don't quite know what that difference will be yet; Maybe to help people going through a difficult time with a heartfelt and helpful blog entry?

My advice, to those of you who want it, is to fill your life with happiness and fun. If you find yourself snapping at people, ask yourself if you would rather spend your precious time being happy instead. Chances are, you do.

Try not to spend to much of your time doing nothing; sleeping or on the internet, for example. Instead, why not get out and do something? It could be something small, like going for a walk in the park, or taking a jog to kick start that exercise plan you drew up but never actually did. Or something big, like starting up your own business. What do you have to lose?