So we’re approaching Valentines Day!  Traditionally this is the time that we show that special someone how appreciated they are. Of course its much better if we keep our loved ones up to speed on our loved up-ness much more regularly than annually, however at least this serves as a reminder to those who need a nudge.

This day can also be the opportunity to send a little signal to someone that you’d quite like to explore a little love with – a cheeky secret card or note, some choccies.  This could be the day to expose your heart, take a little risk and maybe make a change in your life for the better.

Of course love is much more than romantic love as depicted by St Valentine.  There are many kinds of love – friendship, love for your parents, children, brothers and sisters and other family members.  There’s a different love again that we feel for our pets.  There’s also a wider love – love of people we don’t even know, our wider community, the planet we live on, the trees, countryside, seas and skies we share. There’s no shame in feeling love, like every emotion it is what you choose to do with it that counts.

Is Love All Around Us?

Sometimes we feel that there is less love in the world but it’s not true.  When we are fearful it can hide the love and cause us to behave in unloving ways.  People are often afraid of situations and people they don’t know (this is harnessed by those who want to control others) but when we overcome our fear then the love can show itself.  What did fear ever achieve?

Personally I believe there is LOADS of love out there – people running scout troops, helping in their local community, fundraising for charity, it’s all there.  The film ‘Love Actually’ – if you haven’t seen it you must – opens with with this premise.  If you want to see love then go to the arrivals gate at an airport!

So love is all around us – I hope you agree.  The tricky bit is sharing that love with people you don’t know and places you can’t see.  Unfortunately ‘out of sight, out of mind’ can come into play here.  It’s too easy to switch off to stories of war, famine, abuse and neglect, but if you knew the person, saw the situation then I’m sure you would behave differently.

Close to our hearts at Where Does It Come From? are the people who make our clothes and other products. When you buy from our range of shirts, scarves and childrens’ clothes, we share the story of your new garment with you.  By typing in the code on your label you CAN get to know the people who made your garment, as well as finding out how they did it.  We truly believe that when you know people it makes it easier to spread that love and kindness.  Every time you choose to spend money on an ethically made product then you are spreading love to the people who made it.  Perhaps the love can also come back the other way – wouldn’t you want to have love and happiness woven into the clothes you are going to wear?

What’s Love Got To Do With It?

Most of the garments available in our shops are created using ‘fast fashion’ which basically means quick turnaround production, low quality and low prices.  The knock on effects for the workers in terms of pay, conditions and job security are horrendous, as well as some of the health hazards such as factory collapses and fires.  We work with movements such as Fashion Revolution which was set up after 1,200 workers were killed in Bangladesh in a factory collapse in 2013.  If you would like to know more about the effects of fast fashion then watch ‘True Cost Movie’ which is easily downloadable at Amazon and Netflix.

Its also worth spreading the love to the planet we live on. Creating products considerately, using less harmful chemicals, less water, less carbon and creating less pollution – these things also help ensure the continuation of our planet’s resources.  In a way by doing this we are loving the generations still to come – perhaps our children and grandchildren.

Love is a BIG topic and it’s worth saying that sharing it out doesn’t mean you get to keep less!  So have a wonderful, loving Valentines Day – share the love with those you know but also those you don’t know.  By choosing where you spend your money, you can be spreading your love much more widely than you could ever imagine.

Published January 30, 2017 & Filed in Jo’s Soapbox,Where Does It Come From? Blog