This Valentine’s Day was different.
- Sandra Akins
- Feb 17
- 2 min read
Updated: Mar 1
It was a step into the unknown.
Instead of waiting for the love story I once imagined, I boarded a plane to visit a dear friend of almost 30 years in San Diego. We have witnessed each other’s youth, heartbreaks, marriages, reinventions, and quiet triumphs. We have seen each other rise and fall—and rise again.
She picked me up at the airport with a carefully planned itinerary that carried us from one beautiful moment to the next. We hiked along the ocean cliffs, met her vibrant circle of friends (who so generously welcomed me as one of their own), shared time with her sweet mother, and enjoyed the most delicious dumplings. The Pacific Ocean seemed to follow us everywhere—vast, grounding, constant.
There were no roses. No candlelit confessions. No grand romantic gestures. And yet—my heart was full.
Full of laughter, Full of memories, Full of the kind of love that feels steady and safe.
It made me realize something profound: sometimes love does not arrive in the form we expect. It does not always look like romance or dramatic declarations.
Sometimes it looks like a friend who plans your weekend with care. Sometimes it looks like a mother who sets the table with warmth. Sometimes it looks like shared stories on a cliff overlooking the sea.
Love never fades. Love never gives up. Love forgives. Love believes.
In the research from the The Blue Zones by Dan Buettner, one of the strongest predictors of longevity is meaningful connection. In communities where people live the longest, strong friendships and a deep sense of belonging are essential. Not optional. Essential.
And I felt that vitality all weekend. I felt alive.
So this week, instead of telling you to add another workout to your routine, I invite you to look inward.
Who is already in your heart?
Who may need a phone call from you?
Who has quietly loved you in ways you might have overlooked?
There is so much love around us.
Even in the gentle eyes of a pet waiting at the door.
Open your eyes. It’s there.
Join Me – Free Yoga & Meditation Experience
We are almost at capacity for our Free Yoga & Meditation Experience on February 20th at 12:00 PM.
This will be 45 minutes of gentle movement, calming breathwork, and guided meditation—designed to reset your nervous system and reconnect you to yourself.
Please RSVP soon—spots are limited. And yes… bring a friend.
Share this experience.
Sometimes the greatest gift we give someone is simply an hour of presence
Before I close, I want to extend a personal invitation.
If you have been feeling off balance—low energy, stressed, uncertain about your nutrition—I am offering a Free Nutrition Assessment.
Let’s check in. Let’s see where you are and where you want to go.
Because wellness is not just the time we spend in the gym.
Wellness is the way we live, breathe, connect, and choose—day by day.
With love and light,
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