Take time before the session and find a quiet place for reflection. Is Valentine's Day too sentimental for you? Or do you relish the time to express love? Is it problematic at this time in your life? Or is it a celebration? Love seems so simple and yet it is connected intimately to all of the other emotions, even the negative ones. What is the answer? Love. When there is pain — love, when there is heartbreak — love, when there is despair — love.

"The ultimate source of a happy life is warm-heartedness. This means extending to others the kind of concern we have for ourselves. On a simple level we find that if we have a compassionate heart we naturally have more friends. And scientists today are discovering that while anger and hatred eat into our immune system, warm-heartedness and compassion are good for our health." — Dalai Lama, Jan. 4, 2013

Try to connect to the simple, pure love of the young children in your life and in your work with them.