love

Earlier this month, we focused on the invisible armor that surrounds areas of our body. Today I’d like to focus on another kind of armor: The kind surrounding the heart.

Every day, we pose a question to the members of Gaia, Gaiam’s online community for individuals committed to creating healthy lives of meaning and purpose. Recently, we asked our community for answers to the question, “What have you learned from your mother?” In honor of Mother’s Day, here are a few of our favorite responses:

Dear Arielle and Brian,
When you meet your soulmate, do you know it pretty much right away and if things go wrong, is he then not your soulmate? How do you know, if things seem great and then fall apart? I have a situation that is pretty unique, and I’m not sure what to make of it. I am getting mixed signals and even though I am in my 40s, I don’t know how to navigate this. Does the path of true love always run smooth if the person is your soulmate? I don’t know whether to give up or wait it out.
Thanks,
Lynn

Talk about sexy … eco comes in amazing color guaranteed to fan the fire. I love this organic cotton “Lucia” bedding ensemble from Gaiam

The bedroom is a place where we are embraced and held dearly, and where we get to be totally uninhibited. Yet all too often I see this room as one of the most neglected. Because it is our own private space, out of public view, it often tends to be the ‘catch all’ for projects, laundry and junk.

Dear Arielle and Brian:I have been in a relationship for nearly five years. I feel very safe, comfortable and care deeply for this person. He loves me unconditionally and he is there for me more than anyone I have ever been with. The problem is that I don’t feel like he is my “soul mate.” How do I know if he is the ONE?
Thanks,
Virginia

Add more heart to your Valentine's Day

Contrary to the deluge of advertisements, magazine articles, and greeting cards floating around right now, not everyone looks forward to Valentine’s Day. Lots of people can’t stand it. Hate it, even. (I know; I used to be one of them until I got engaged on Feb. 14th three years ago.) It can seem like just another excuse to spend money and an opportunity to wish your love life were somehow different.

Many people think of February as the “love” month. They’re planning ways to celebrate love with a partner, looking for love, or bemoaning the fact that they are not experiencing love. Yet it is very important that we all become clear that love begins within.

I’m a sucker for love letters and chocolate, so it should come as no surprise that I look forward to Valentine’s Day. Show a little love for the planet and your partner by having an eco-friendly evening.

One of the keys to healthy relationships is spoken appreciation. Other kinds of appreciation (such as touch or giving a hand with a chore) are great, too, but spoken appreciation is highly valued and easy to do. We recommend a technique we call verbal valentines, which work wonders in any kind of relationship.

We all crave connection. We long to love and be loved. Even those of us who have been hurt or abandoned secretly hope that someone will come along to prove to us that love is real and intimacy is achievable. During the holidays we are catapulted into situations where we can see how far we have come or how far we have yet to go regarding relationships. Today I want to share a tool to help you or someone you love transform feelings of isolation by looking at connection as a choice.