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Friday, February 15, 2008

UA&P I AM S.T.R.O.N.G. : A Valentines Story

Joie Shares..

Here's a heartwarming story I got from Chicken Soup for the Soul. It is a story to remind everyone of what Valentines is truly about. Valentines isn't only a day for lovers, but for everyone to be reminded that they are special, cared for and loved :)

I hope you'll like it!

A Valentine for Laura

Ann, a friend of mine disliked Valentine's Day as a girl. She was plain-- not ugly, but not beautiful. Valentine's Day is not kind to plain girls. It wasn't so bad in elementary school, when the obligatory thirty valentines arrived: one from each classmate. She overlooked the fact that her cards were not oversized like those of the popular girls, and did not contain the love notes like those of the pretty girls. But later, in middle school, the valentine exhcnage was no longer mandatory. Just when the yearning for romance budded, when the desire for admiration and flirtation became imperative, and a valentine was needed most, no card arrived. Not for Ann. Not for plain girls anywhere. Only for the pretty and the popular. At such a time, stories of ugly ducklings that will one day turn into beautiful swans do not assuage that hurt and rejection.
As fate would have it (and often does), in subsequent years Ann did become pretty and turned many a boy's head. And she received more attention and flirtations, she came to feel-- and therefore to be-- very beautiful. But even years later, grown and with a family of her own, she did not forget those long-ago days of rejection and dejection.

Today, Ann's family includes two boys in middle school. For a dollar, their student council will deliver a Valentine's Day carnation. Ann gives a dollar to each of her boys to buy flowers for their girlfriends. Then she adds another dollar apiece with the instruction: "Pick another girl, one who is nice, but plain-- someone who probably won't get a flower. Send her a flower anonymously. That way she will know that someone cares, and she will feel special."

Ann has done this for several years, spreading Valentine's Day a little beyong her own world.

One year, Laura, who was plain to behold but beautiful to know, received one of these gifts. Ann's son reported that Laura was so happy and surprised, she cried. All day long, she carried the flower on her books and chattered with the other girls about who her admirer could be. As Ann heard the account, she too had to dry her eyes-- for she remembered.

in support of the UA&P I AM S.T.R.O.N.G. organization

50 comments:

Anonymous said...

awwwwwww such a nice story :)

Anonymous said...

what ann did was really touching!

Anonymous said...

my friends and i give each other small gifts like chocolates for valentines :) i think its a good way to make each other feel loved on that special day

Anonymous said...

more love posts! Great!

Anonymous said...

its sad how we live in a not-so-plain-friendly-world...you'd have to be fabulous in a superficial way to stand out from the crowd =(

Anonymous said...

oh wow that's so sweet...this is one proof that happiness do not need to come from huge things...just little gestures of genuine care and concern

Anonymous said...

nobody shouldbe exempt from love-- pretty, popular, ugly, plain, good, bad---everyone deserves to be loved. its sad howpeople think otherwise...even the most unlovable person can and should be loved...

Anonymous said...

it is important to make people feel that they are love regardless of their looks. It can do amazing things to a person :) Thank you for sharing this story!

Anonymous said...

Love is most appreciated when shown through little gestures, even if it's not Valentines Day.How about in each day of your life! Start now. Then you would feel love too.

Anonymous said...

Life is more interesting because ot the different characters of people.
Some are just plain, simple, some are lively, lovely, some are naturally fabulous, some have the crab mentality, etc....
However your friend expressed love to you.Say thank you and be happy!

Anonymous said...

I love chicken soup for the soul! Thanks for sharing this story!

Anonymous said...

Valentines Day is for everyone!

Anonymous said...

Little ways of showing that you care can go a long way! :)

Anonymous said...

i think more people should be like ann! what she made her sons do was a really nice thing! hopefully, a lot of us can learn from this story..

Anonymous said...

Let this story be an inspiration to everyone who has had similar experiences. You can make a big difference in people's lives if you just try.

Anonymous said...

Very touching story!

Anonymous said...

happy valentines!!

Anonymous said...

i want to do the same thing when i have kids of my own! hehe ann is such a sweet mom :)

Anonymous said...

the world can be really discriminating to "plain" people, but everyone should feel and be loved!

Anonymous said...

"Use things & LOVE PEOPLE, instead of loving things & using people"

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing that story Joie! Really touching! :)

Anonymous said...

I'm gonna have my kids do the same!

Anonymous said...

so sweet!

Anonymous said...

We don't always have to wait for V-day to send an anonymous card and flower to someone... We can do it anyday. :)

Anonymous said...

if only all people could be blind to useless biases that hinder them from showing love,care and concern fro others then this world would be a better one

Anonymous said...

we don't need to wait for valentines day to show people that we care :)

Anonymous said...

there was a time when i used to hate valentines like ann. But then i realized that i shouldn't be based on the number of flowers i receive, or whether or not i have admirers but on the person i am in the inside..

Anonymous said...

People should be more like ann to help make others realize their worth :)

Anonymous said...

I love the story!

Anonymous said...

I love the story!

Anonymous said...

From which chicken soup did you get this? Really like it!!

Anonymous said...

It pays to be thoughtful !!

Anonymous said...

Treat everyday like its valentines day

Anonymous said...

the story teaches us the value of thoughtfulness. We should take time to show people we care for them through small acts of kindness

Anonymous said...

Thanks everyone for your comments :)

Anonymous said...

thank you for posting this.. i found anaswer to my problems sa wakas

Anonymous said...

im a guy pero aminin ko na touch ako dun ah

Anonymous said...

sos girl: i'm glad the story inspired you! i'll post more soon :)

Anonymous said...

go out of your way to show people that you care :)this is so sweet..

Anonymous said...

chicken soup for the teenage soul was really one of my favorite books when i was younger. it's very inspirational, and every story teaches you important life lesson :)

punkiliciousss said...

awww... i have a familiar story to tell. last valentines day, me and my guy friend ralph (not boyfriend okay), went around the mall and whenever he sees a girl walking and she seems to be single, he'd give her a nice appreciative look and tug away my arm as a signal for me to slap him. this in turn would make the girl feel as if we are together and i got jealous because my so-called boyfriend is looking at others. we both think that it's a weird but nice way of showing single girls that may look plain that they are really interesting. ;p

Anonymous said...

Punky: Awwww.. how really really nice of you :) i'm deeply touched! well, it's true. some single girls, especially those that have been single for a very very long time have low self-esteem because they think they aren't "good enough" to be in a relationship. We all know its not true and they shouldn't allow these things to bring them down. But sometimes, all we need to do is to remind them of their worth and give them a boost of confidence from time to time. Thank you so much for sharing :)

Anonymous said...

valentine's day for me is like one of those ordinary days in my life.
i never experienced to be given by a guy with valentine gifts, roses, valentine cards and all sorts of sort.

i was plain like Ann and i know i will be plain for the rest of my life(sigh). i admit that i have lots and lots of crushes and i'm having day dreams about them but i'm never expecting that they would like me back. 'coz for the record, i'm not pretty and i'm not one of those popular girls whom guys are dying to have.

anyway, i'm happy being like this- just a plain girl. i don't need to have a share of those ugly duckling turned swan stories.

i hope someday there would be someone to accept me and love for who i am- just me.i also hope to share a story maybe not exactly like this but a story that can also touch hearts beyond the unimaginable.
anyway,i like the story though. so inspiring!

Anonymous said...

Jamgurlz: Hi Jam! Thank you so much for sharing :) Being "plain" may be how some people see you, but what is important it that you should know that their is more to you that just your looks. Don't let it define who you are. You should love yourself 1st before people can love you back. Know that you are special and that you have a lot of great things going for you. Looks is not everything and I firmly believe in that. You are worthy to be loved, and someday someone will see that. He'll shower you with all the roses and mushy cards you deserve! hehe clearly, i am such a optimist :) Let me know when you meet him hehe. Thanks so much :)

Anonymous said...

awwww.heart melting =)

Anonymous said...

soooo sweet..

Anonymous said...

im in love! =p

Anonymous said...

feels like everyday it's hearts' day!

Anonymous said...

love..love..love! such a nice feeling!

Anonymous said...

super awwwww....