When was the last time you told someone what you really think of them? Not in a fit of anger when someone has wronged you or you have not been satisfied with something, but rather telling someone what we admire in them or a quality they hold that we aspire towards.
On Sunday, it is Valentine’s Day. A day to honour and celebrate those we love. This year, during a pandemic, I wanted to find something more meaningful for the men in my life (husband, 15-year-old son and 12-year-old son) than the usual chocolate. Do not get me wrong, chocolate will still be exchanged (we have a second stomach, called a dessert or chocolate stomach) but I wanted something with more sentiment. A colleague posted a craft idea and I saw an opportunity to tell my family what I really think of them.
I have created personalized Inuksuks for each of them. An Inuksuk is a human-made structure in Northern Canada, built out of stone. They are used as navigation tools, a map so-to-speak. Each stone has a quality I admire in that person and the structure can be built either with the top stone as the quality you need at the moment or the quality that is strong at the moment.
While we have been on lock-down, our emotions are like a roller coaster. Some days we are up and other days we are down and another day we are in the middle. I am hoping that on the down days, my men can look at the Inuksuk, draw strength from it and realize their gifts to others. Hopefully it can be used as an internal navigation tool or a map when they find themselves off-course or off-kilter.
For teachers, imagine creating a set for your own Peace Table…think of how centering this could be for children who need a few minutes to gather themselves, build an Inuksuk and find their inner power!
What will you do this Valentine’s Day to tell your loved ones what you really think of them?
This is a great idea. Well done!