Embracing Love in your writing on Valentine's Day

As Valentine's Day approaches, the air is filled with notions of romantic love—roses, chocolates, and heartfelt cards exchanged between partners. Well, when we can take our minds off the war, the hostages, and world instability. 

Even in Israel, many have embraced this holiday. While celebrating romantic love is undoubtedly special, let's take a moment to broaden the scope of Valentine's Day in our writing. This year, let's explore how this day can be an opportunity to express love for our country, history, people, and traditions. 

Here are some writing prompts for a Valentine's Day poem, flash piece, essay, or short story that goes beyond romantic love:

1. Love for Country: Discuss the concept of patriotism and the love one feels for their homeland. Share personal anecdotes or historical examples that reflect the deep connection individuals have with their countries. Experiment with writing that celebrates the unique qualities that make your country special.

2. Embracing History: Highlight the importance of acknowledging and appreciating one's historical roots. Whether it's the struggles of the past or the achievements that shaped the present, understanding and embracing history fosters a sense of connection and pride.

3. Celebrating Community and People: Explore the idea of expressing love for the people within our communities. Discuss the significance of unity, support, and shared experiences that strengthen the bonds between individuals. In your writing, explore the diverse tapestry of people that make up your community.

4. Preserving Traditions: Examine the role of traditions in shaping cultural identity. Discuss the ways in which preserving and passing down traditions contributes to a sense of continuity and belonging and focus on one for a poem or flash piece. Stuck? Reflect on your own traditions and the importance of keeping them alive.

5. Acts of Kindness: Propose the idea of spreading love through acts of kindness within the community. Whether it's volunteering, supporting local businesses, or participating in cultural events, small gestures can have a profound impact on fostering a sense of collective love and unity. This is an ideal topic for essay writing. 

6. Expressing Gratitude: Another essay idea. Take a moment on Valentine's Day to express gratitude for the aspects of the country, history, people, and traditions you most value. 

 Whether or not you actually celebrate this day, use this time to explore these topics as writing exercises for fiction or nonfiction. We are living and loving in the shadow of October 7. There is much to write about. This convergence of personal experiences and broader historical contexts provides a rich tapestry for writers to explore and unravel through their words. I'll leave you with a final writing prompt: Write about the first time you remember wanting to help someone.