“In the midst of winter, I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer.” –Albert Camus

First of all, thank you for your wonderful entries in the Love for No Reason Valentine’s Contest. There were many great tributes to the unconditional loving people in your lives. The winners are listed below.

I love that Valentine’s Day occurs in the middle of winter, bringing some reminder of love to help melt our hearts amidst the freeze outside.

Whether you live in a snow-covered area or you have overcast skies hiding the sun, you are likely to experience a bit of the winter blues (yes those of you in the southern hemisphere aren’t experiencing this right now – but wait six months). Your symptoms are common. They’re a result of a lot of factors such as: not enough sunlight, little time spent outside, less opportunity for exercise, or too many snow days keeping parents and children home together in the house.

When we’re feeling cooped up, craving carbs and having low energy levels, the idea of experiencing unconditional love may seem like a far-away concept. But it’s closer than you think.

One way to kick-start your experience of love for no reason is to feel your feelings, not avoid them. Sounds odd, right? You may deal with stress, depression, boredom or anxiety by repressing your feelings (bottling them up) or highly expressing them (being a drama queen or constantly repeating your woes). Both ends of this feeling spectrum stop the flow of energy and love in your life. Feeling your feelings, simply and naturally, triggers their release, like melting the ice and snow outside your window. When your heavy emotions lose their density, love streams in and out freely.

If you resist feeling your feelings, take your head out of it and focus on your body. As soon as you catch yourself beginning to practice any of the avoidance techniques – reaching for the chocolate cake, glass of wine or credit cards for some retail therapy, try this simple process I learned from Love Luminary Raphael Cushnir for welcoming your feelings:

1. Take a few deep breaths and pay attention to what you feel in your body. Part of what makes negative emotions so painful is our tightening against them.
2. Imagine you’re in a hot shower or bath. Feel your body expand and relax.
3. Bring that same state of physical relaxation and openness in your body to that negative feeling you resist.
4. Notice how your body relaxes and expands, and in that bigger space, the stuck feeling can now start to move.

Once you’re willing to feel your feelings, no matter how painful they start out, those feelings hurt less as you open to them. As Arjuna Ardagh said in our interview for Love for No Reason: Any feeling fully felt turns into love.

And that love will lead you to finding the invincible summer within you.

With love for no reason and every reason,
Marci

Love for No Reason Valentine’s Contest Winners.

The winning nominators and nominees each receive an autographed book. Winners are not listed in any particular order (nominee is in parentheses):

1. Sharla Vellek (parents, Riley and Myra Sanders) First Place—received one dozen Valentine’s Day roses
2. Marilyn Kier (friend Marcie Chesin)
3. Stu Voeck (friend Sharon)
4. Jeanne Marie Locklear (friend Amber)
5. Michelle Gutierrez (children)
6. Helen Breier (Aunt Lucy)
7. Debra Bishal (father)
8. Jan Paquette (co-worker, Kathy)
9. Deepa Desai (mother, Saroj Desai)
10. Deborah Dambra (husband)

Where can I not find love? There is nowhere I cannot find love. It is the only thing that exists. It’s the greatness of who you truly are. It is everything. -Isha

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Whether you’re single, with the partner of your dreams, or somewhere in between, I’m wishing for you a Valentine’s Day filled with love for yourself, for everyone around you and for your life.

Here’s a Valentine’s Day present from me to you today. A one-minute heart-opening unconditional love video: http://www.youtube.com/marcishimoff#p/u/0/ZkUCDjZhRqk.

Enjoy! And feel free to pass it on to your loved ones today and spread unconditional love on this Valentine’s Day.

Also, thank you for the wonderful and inspiring entries we received in the last few days for our Love for No Reason Valentine’s Contest. The response has been fantastic. Congratulations to Sharla Vellek who’s nominee will receive a dozen red roses today (on me)!

Because of the overwhelming response, we are extending the contest until midnight tonight for the other nine prizes (see contest details below). We will announce those winners tomorrow. If you are one of those winners, you and your nominee will each receive an autographed copy of Love for No Reason.

May your Valentine’s Day be filled with Love for No Reason and for Every Reason!

With love,

Marci Shimoff

CONTEST DETAILS

Who in YOUR life is the embodiment of unconditional love, what we call Love for No Reason? We are scouring the United States and Canada for the 9 most unconditionally loving people.

RULES: Tell us why you feel this person,your nominee, embodies Love for No Reason. Your entry should be 5 sentences or less or you can create a video (less than 2 minutes long). The title of your letter and/or video must be Love for No Reason. The top 9 winners (nominees) will be sent a free personalized autographed copy of my NY Times bestseller, Love for No Reason. Plus, YOU (if you are one of the top nine nominators) will receive a personalized autographed copy of my new book, Love for No Reason delivered to YOUR doorstep (the books will be sent by February 16).

HOW TO SUBMIT: Post your letter or short video on my Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/MarciShimoffFan by midnight on Valentine’s Day, Monday, February 14, 2011.

WHAT YOU WIN: The top nine winners, YOU and your nominee will each receive an autographed copy of my new book, Love for No Reason delivered to your doorstep (the books will be sent by February 16).

Good Luck!

Who in YOUR life is the embodiment of unconditional love, what we call Love for No Reason? We are scouring the United States and Canada for the 10 most unconditionally loving people.

RULES: Tell us why you feel this person,your nominee, embodies Love for No Reason.  Your entry should be 5 sentences or less or you can create a video (less than 2 minutes long).  The title of your letter and/or video must be Love for No Reason. The top 10 winners (nominees) will be sent a free personalized autographed copy of my NY Times bestseller, Love for No Reason. Plus, YOU (if you are one of the top ten nominators) will receive a personalized autographed copy of my new book, Love for No Reason delivered to YOUR doorstep (the books will be sent by February 16)). And the #1 winner (nominee) will receive a bouquet of red roses delivered to their doorstep on Valentine’s Day — signed from YOU, the nominator (I will arrange and pay the full cost)!

HOW TO SUBMIT: Post your letter or short video on my Facebook page by Valentine’s Day, Monday, February 14th, 2011 @ 5:00am, PST. Be sure to include your contact information, including how we can reach you on Valentine’s Day if your nominee is picked to receive the bouquet of red roses from YOU!

WHAT YOU WIN: The #1 winner will be sent a bouquet of red roses on Valentine’s Day from YOU. Plus, for the top ten winners, YOU and your nominee will each receive an autographed copy of my new book, Love for No Reason delivered to your doorstep (the books will be sent by February 16).

Good Luck!

With love for no reason and every reason,

Marci

Today is my birthday.  I turned 53 years young and I’m spending it in the most extraordinary way.

I’m helping midwife my 93 year old aunt in her passing. It maybe her birthday today, too — into a new world.

Thank you for all your love and wishes. I am full of gratitude.

Marci