Welcome, February. The days are starting to get longer, the snowstorms are (hopefully) subsiding, and Valentines Day is just around the corner. All over the country, you can find different opinions about Saint Valentine’s Day. Some people are excited at the prospect of flourishing their loved one with adoration and gifts on this special day, others dread the thought of it, while still others ignore the holiday completely. The enjoyability of this holiday can be circumstantial to what situation you are in. If you are in a new relationship, Valentines Day can act as a finely tuned microscope on your relationship, exploiting the shortcomings or highlighting the strengths, and can force us to decide if the relationship is really good for us, or if it’s poison.

Are you proactive or reactive in your work and personal life? Think about your career. Do you jump on tasks as they pop up, putting out fires as you go? Now consider your weekend. Do you wait until plans come to you, or do you make plans to ensure that you are having the kind of free time that you want with family and friends?