Motivation Mondays: LOVE
“A flower cannot blossom without sunshine, and man cannot live without love”. Max Muller

Motivation Mondays: LOVE – Paul Gauguin, When Will You Marry?
Love is a force more formidable than any other. It is invisible – it cannot be seen or measured, yet it is powerful enough to transform you in a moment, and offer you more joy than any material possession could. Barbara de Angelis
So what are you doing for Valentine’s Day? This is the mantra we will hear and repeat till the 14th comes and goes. For those of you who have great romantic plans with loved ones, I say go out and enjoy yourself. Carry that feeling over to the rest of the year and to others outside of your inner circle of family and friends. To those of you who don’t celebrate it, for whatever reason, I say bravo. I hope it means you have conquered the commercialization of this formidable emotion we call LOVE. I hope it means your loved ones know, implicitly, that you are the love god/goddess of your household; you don’t need one day of the year to prove it. Awesome!
On the other hand, if you aren’t celebrating because you don’t believe in love or you think it’s overrated, I say… think again! Did you miss the memo on Self-Love? Or were you busy beating yourself up over that long-lost relationship that coulda-woulda-shoulda? Please get off the pity couch and give yourself a hug. If nothing else folks, build your own fantasy valentine and take the day off to pamper yourself and build new castles in the sky. Why must we all celebrate it exactly the same way?
“Where there is love there is life”. Mahatma Gandhi

Motivation Mondays: LOVE – Barney, Miss Beazley and Kitty; the White House pets.
I believe that imagination is stronger than knowledge. That myth is more potent than history. That dreams are more powerful than facts. That hope always triumphs over experience. That laughter is the only cure for grief. And I believe that love is stronger than death. Robert Fulghum
There’s a Story Here: When Will You Marry?
Did you know that the first painting above is by Paul Gauguin and it is called When Will You Marry? Yep. Now think back to Gauguin’s travels and creative expressions. They had to have been inspired by something, someplace in the world, right? In 1891 he traveled to Tahiti for the first time. He imagined that it was a beautiful paradise with gorgeous women dancing with exotic flowers in their hair. Historians shared that he created this fantasy in his head, and chose to believe that the [Tahitian] natives lived “to sing and to make love.” Gauguin was able to finagle large sums of money from his friends, and bring some public attention to the tiny island. But the truth was that the natives of Tahiti had been ravaged by diseases brought to their land by Europeans who created an international, westernized community.
The women Gauguin portrayed were beautiful alright but, they had earthly issues like the rest of us. Gauguin tried to reinvent their lives in a romanticized vision that was of his own making. As Gandhiji said, where there is love there is life, right? So while the gorgeous painting above which, by the way, sold for $300 million dollars in 2015, shows two lovely ladies looking as if they are waiting for their suitors to come and propose; it might all be smoke and mirrors. The back story might have been that When Will You Marry? was more of a swansong warning the ladies to procreate before they perish… The point I’m trying to make is that on fanciful occasions like Valentine’s Day, take charge and celebrate your health and freedoms. Keep in mind that those huge bouquets of expensive flowers delivered to Rosa at the office might have come from Rosa. I applaud her! Treat yourself with love so when love comes calling, you’ll be filled with your own bliss and not be a love vampire. What are you waiting for?
The details for Motivation Mondays are below. Join in! The themes for February are:
02/02 – Attitude
02/09 – Love
02/16 – Celebration
02/26 – Leadership
03/02 – READ
More Below!
“We love life, not because we are used to living but because we are used to loving”. Friedrich Nietzsche

Motivation Mondays: LOVE – Lovebug and Chocolates
We’re born alone, we live alone, we die alone. Only through our love and friendship can we create the illusion for the moment that we’re not alone. Orson Welles
Are you still with me? Paul Tillich, the great philosopher/theologian once said, “The first duty of love is to listen.” If you want love, you’ve got to become loving and it starts with loving YOU. Do you know enough about Valentine’s Day? If you stopped scarfing those truffles for a moment, we can pay homage to the many Christian martyrs named Valentine. Yes, martyrs means they were murdered for various reasons. But the two for whom this venerable holiday is celebrated are Valentine of Rome and Valentine of Terni. Legend has it that Valentine of Rome was jailed because he performed weddings for soldiers who were forbidden to marry. He was also accused of proselytizing his faith which was a no-go-zone back in the day. Of course, the candy and cookie marketing mavens won’t mention that … they are busy selling you rocks and chocolate blocks. It’s all good but, see the smoke and mirrors for what they are. Feeling better now?
Isn’t it ironic? We turn a martyr moment into a merrymaking party. But that is why we must not allow ourselves to be depressed over this one day show. Keep in mind that the mantra young men and women hear from their families when they reach a certain age is: When Will You Marry? Of course, in this case, it’s not a swan song like it was for the Gauguin ladies. Our parents want us to be happy so there is great romance and fantasy attached to the idea of marrying. Valentine’s Day is a reminder to those of us who said “Stuff It!” that there might be something more to this gifting, eating, loving and merrymaking day. The something more is Love thyself. Still don’t get it? Have no fear! I shared these stories to let you know that behind every downer is a dance. It’s Motivation Monday. Remember? I mean, if you’re alone, what do you do? I say get out there and love the heck out of yourself. Celebrate your version of love. Celebrate your accomplishments, your friendships and your struggles. Love yourself and treat yourself to that piece of jewelry. Go out with friends and celebrate. I know you can do it. You are worthy.
Happy Valentine’s Day. Have a great week!
For More: Women’s Lives & Issues
Positive Motivation Tip: Practice loving yourself every day; especially on Valentine’s Day!
Motivation Mondays is open to anyone who wishes to share a motivational quote, photo, personal challenge or a post that encourages others to start the week on an upbeat note.
Basic Instructions: Each week, I will have a motivation word to help us create a response. (See listed words for end of November and all of December below)
Email address: You may email or share your post as a comment and I will add it to the round-up of related posts. email it to: contact(@)mirthandmotivation(.)com
Category tag: – Share your post using Motivation Mondays
Twitter hashtag: – Use this on Twitter #MotvnM
Dedicated Page: There is a dedicated page for Motivation Mondays. It has the same instructions and will include other helpful tools and a link to the round-up
Facebook Page: MotivationOnMondays Join our page and add your post and/or any motivational piece you think will be helpful to others.
Facebook Community: We have a Facebook community forum to compliment the page. It serves as another way to share uplifting posts and thoughts. Please join in and add your voice.
Badge: – I created a fun badge using PicMonkey’s free photo editing tools. You can create your own, use WordPress’ integrated tool on your blog or you are welcome to use mine. (see dedicated page)
Tag: – Motivation Mondays
Hashtag: – #MotvnM
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PHOTO CREDITS/ATTRIBUTIONS: All Photos: Paul Gauguin’s When Will You Marry? Lovebug Chocolates, Cat Dog Love via Wikipedia.
Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank
Mirth and Motivation
Positive Kismet
Trackbacks
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It is funny but I was just telling my daughter this weekend that in order to respect others you have to respect yourself, and the same goes for love. We can not expect to get it, if we are not willing to receive it. And to do that you have to be able to listen and accept. Happy Hearts Day!
We actually don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day in our house. We feel that love should be shown every day, not just once a year.
I know… I read it on your blog. But this year will be a bit different for you. Your hubby might surprise you too. 😉
I never go out on Valentine’s Day. My lady and I prefer to stay in. It’s much more fun and much less stressful.
I hear you… Too much stress frankly. 🙂
You had me at the chocolate.. that picture says a millions things..
Hahaha! buy some asap and send us pictures; funny pictures. 🙂
Great quotes in ths post. We don’t do anythng special on Valentines, just maybe dinner out.
I love your motivation monday post!!! Love… How perfect since it valentines week 🙂
What a great post! Not too sure what we will be going for Valentine’s day but it won’t be much. Hanging out at home! But, I don’t mind!
Love Max Muller’s quote. The artwork is beautiful. Family plans and … it’s Valentine’s Day every day. 🙂
Exactly Tracy! Every day. 🙂
Great motivation and btw I love the photo of painting looks it has a meaning and this is very nice post.
I love the idea of celebrating yourself as well as your loved ones on Valentine’s Day! And, I like to stuff myself with chocolate any day of the year! lol
These are my favorite reads when I visit blogs. It always is so thought provoking and interesting.
Thank you dear Nina. Appreciated. 🙂
Oh I just love these quotes. Thank you for sharing them with us 🙂
We do celebrate it not only as boyfriend-girlfriend but also as a family. I don’t find the reason why we shouldn’t. Showing love is important.
We should always celebrate our good fortune… life is the greatest gift! 🙂
Oh how I love this post! Inspiring! Thank you so much for motivating me to be okay with loving myself this week <3
Amen to that Erin! We are not alone. 🙂
This is exactly what my yoga instructor was talking about tonight as we ended our class.
That Gauguin is gorgeous, and I love the quotes. Motivation Monday is a great way to start the week!
It’s funny that you wrote this – my husband just asked me if anyone was writing about the history of Valentine’s Day – you’re the first – and I have been saying it is a holiday to bring us joy and allow a break in our routines so that we can share love – and I enjoyed your points that were made – thank you 🙂 Great work
There’s a saying: No one is an island.
No one could be alone. I believe that.
But love today often seems to be a commodity and an option.
Loving oneself can be described as just taking care of ourself correctly, everyone can survive with just air, food and water and maybe some exercise.
It’s true that without such love, one cannot survive.
Yet that love itself cannot sustain a life alone.
I think it’s great to celebrate loving yourself and others. Whether you do it on V-Day or not,it’s just nice to have a big reminder every year.
Love is in the air or at least the shelves at the store are lined with valentine’s day stuff. I am not planning on doing anything this year. My husband and I don’t like this commercial holiday, we think love should be shown everyday.
Ugh, this tired, over worked mom, doesn’t know how to love myself. I’ll have to ponder this some more. Great message, I need to figure out how to implement.
I’m not sure I really know how to love myself. I’m a servant to my kids and husband and always the last to take care of myself. So this will be something I really have to work on.
We are going out to dinner! It will be nice to be out with ourselves and no kids for a change! I hope you are spending the day with someone you love too!
I like your whole perspective on this one. Live and let live… unless you’re not living…then go get to living!! 🙂
Hahaha! Oh Rosey that’s a great one. We have to live our lives instead of waiting for something to happen.
I like to plan special times together all throughout the year instead of making it special only once in the year. I may try a new dessert recipe around this time though as i have been seeing so many delicious looking ones in relation to valentines day!
I’m celebrating my version of love, by spending the day with abandoned dogs, at the adoption fair! I was actually hoping I will spend this year with a loved one. Sigh, too bad, no one in sight yet!
It’s all good Tiffany. You are lifting others up and you will be lifted too. 🙂
Sometimes I really wonder if love do exist.. You see, the world have been really realistic and showing me that money, the greed of wanting money, overcome and almost replace what’s call love.. I do hope I can feel more ‘love’ from everywhere around the world.
Love should be shared between everyone not just your spouse. I’m celebrating Valentine’s Day with my family and my toddler.
Good for you. Enjoy it! 🙂
Love is a very powerful emotion that can us happy and unfortunately, inflict pain. However, in the process of that other side of love, it also makes us stronger individuals. Ain’t it a mystery? I wish you love everyday, Elizabeth. Happy Valentine’s Day!
No buying into the commercialism here, just quietly loving me and mine as always!
Ahem, yes! Same here dear sister… 🙂
I love the art that you’ve shown on this post! It’s absolutely beautiful!!
Such lovely images! Thanks for the inspiring words. 🙂
I’ve always thought something’s amiss with the concept of Valentine’s. What tragic stories there are behind this celebration.
But then again, yes, it’s all a matter of perspective. People only become victims when we allow ourselves to be victimised. So yeah, get out there and celebrate life and love. 🙂
I am set to meet with the Board of Directors. Haha I was called for a meeting on that date. Aren’t they sadists? haha It’s Feb 14, and they scheduled the special meeting on that date. I can’t do anything about it. Will have to think ways to cope up. I was set to fly to my girlfriend’s place, but because of the sudden meeting I was stuck here. Tsk tsk tsk. Now this reminds me to devise a plan.
You better Raymond or your girlfriend will give you grief. What’s up with the board? Not nice of them. 🙁
This is a very timely topic with Valentine’s happening this weekend. Love is really such a powerful force and at times a great equalizer.
Great point! It is an equalizer indeed. 🙂
I do not have any plans for Valentines Day. These are all great quotes.
I’m not sure what we’re doing for Valentine’s but we always make an effort to celebrate it somehow. Any excuse to share the love you have for someone else is a good excuse!
That is true! It’s the perfect excuse to play nice. 🙂
Valentine’s Day is truly a consumer holiday. It horribly commercialised and totally overrated. We shouldn’t bank in on a consumer holiday to celebrate love. Love can be celebrated anyday, anytime, anywhere. 🙂
All I can do is stare at the chocolate lol. It looks to beautiful to eat!
I love finding out about the day. Lots of great info.
I always love your quotes as you know, and now you’ve given me the brilliant idea of sending myself flowers to raise my profile in the local romance pecking order. Must remember to change my shirt to make the whole thing more credible 🙂
LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL! I haven’t stopped laughing. I’m not sure why you need a shirt change but the flowers with go over like caramel with the natives. HAHAHA!!! 🙂
Great motivation! Loving yourself is so important!!
Such a inspiring post. A fantastic quote to start from Max Muller. It is very true that man cannot live without love. The Orson Welles quote sums it all, as only Love & friendship could help us create the illusion that we are not alone. Thanks for the wonderful motivation.
Thank you for your generous comment. Much appreciated. 🙂
Self love is so important. I want to make sure that I work on implementing that!
I always look forward to your motivational posts. Today I particularly appreciate Nietzsche’s “We love life, not because we are used to living but because we are used to loving.”
Thank you Cherry. I fell in love with that quote. 🙂
I do buy my family trinkets and whatnot on Valentine’s Day, but we don’t really do anything special. I like the concept of the day, but as said many times love should be celebrated daily not just once a year.
I absolutely LOVE that painting!
Great read! There are just so many sides to love that it’s easy to lose your way in understanding it. 😀
Perfect for Valentine’s Day coming up! Thanks for sharing!
I’ve never really been that into Valentine’s Day. I think it’s just important to show the same love, appreciation and respect all year round.
The first photo (painting) caught my attention. Thanks for giving your readers the good story about it. Is there someone in this world that have not experienced LOVE? Definitely none.. Just my thoughts. BTW, I will surprise my wife this Heart’s Day with a dinner date.
Wow! a fantastic read to opened up my day. The first photo (painting) caught my attention. Thanks for giving your readers the good story about it. Is there someone in this world that have not experienced LOVE? Definitely none.. Just my thoughts. BTW, I will surprise my wife this Heart’s Day with a dinner date.
This week is more amusing than motivating. Maybe because I’m still in love with the same man that I married 21 years ago. I always look forward to your posts.
You know that according to a recent study Paul Gauguin’s painting is the most expensive and popular painting nowadays? I love it because it is full of colors and emotion. Speaking about Valentine’s day, I will be alone as usual. To tell you the truth, I’ve never had a date on this day.
Yes, I know. It’s amazing that anyone would pay such a price for a painting but the 10 ten most expensive paintings are up there in pricing. 🙂 As for a VDay date, you are not alone on that point… no worries! 🙂
$300M for that painting? WOW! I am glad that I now live in a century where we can be single and not stress over not having someone to marry. My valentine would be an ordinary day but I think I will make it a little special by cooking a nice dinner for family.
Gotta love those love quotes that you shared. We love celebrating Valentine’s Day. We usually go out for dinner and give each other surprises including our son. 🙂
I love the chocolate! The “Lovebug” chocolate is just adorable. Also love the Scotties! Adorable.
I truly agree with this statement that love cannot be seen or measured, but can be felt. Unfortunately there is little love in the world.
That Lovebug chocolate is very cute, and as a dog lover, I enjoyed seeing the Scotties. As boring as it may sound, I think I’d like to go to a movie and dinner for Valentine’s Day.
Wonderful text really. I have enjoyed in every word.
Great post – we all need motivation…and now that I read this, CHOCOLATE!! 🙂
Hahaha! 🙂
Love that 1st drawing! It’s beautiful! Can’t wait for Valentines Day..going to spend it with my 6 year old daughter. =)
I am hoping to go out to dinner with the hubby sans the kids! I wouldn’t mind some chocolate either.
For me, each day with the persons you love is Valentines Day. You celebrate each day you are with that person.
Advance happy Valentine’s day to you! Love is in the air for real. For the Valentine’s day, me, my wife and the whole family are planning for a good dinner :).
Enjoy your outing and Happy Valentine’s to you too! 🙂
Happy Vday! That first drawing is just too wonderful – I loved it.
Another motivation from you thanks for it and you’re photos really looks awesome.
Wow! $300 Million!!! That’s a great achievement! 🙂 Love that quote by Max Muller. <3
Oh boy I am not looking forward to valentines day, it’s not because of failed past relationships, which were a few, it’s not about self love, because I love myself enough to see when things are right for me, and to not allow anyone to tell me otherwise, it’s probably just the constant questions, why don’t you go out on a date with someone, just how long has it been since your last relationship, etc. It’s kinda a drag, I still believe in love, but I just don+t want to be with someone just for the sake of not being alone, I want something fulfilling and meaningful.