Why is the heart the symbol of love? Of course, not the organ that we have pumping blood through our bodies; that would not look as pretty or romantic as the symmetrically shaped hearts we draw, color, and eat chocolate candies from.
But again, why the heart?
Some theories date back to ancient Greece that poets used the heart to signify the powerful emotion of love. They believed one of our strongest emotions of love was connected to the heart.
And the shape of the heart symbol representation?
According to History.com, writers, including the philosopher Aristotle, “described the human heart as having three chambers with a small dent in the middle.” When scientists and artists attempted to draw the heart, they came up with renderings closely resembling what we use as the heart logo today 🤍.
As the centerpiece of our emotions, our soul, our very being, and the central organ that literally pumps life into our bodies, we ought to think of the heart as more than merely a symbol of affection. It is a symbol of life.
So why is February the month to celebrate love and affection on Valentine’s Day?
There are many theories about the origin of February 14th as Valentine’s Day; they involve imprisonments, beheadings, and “a bloody, violent and sexually-charged celebration awash with animal sacrifice, random matchmaking and coupling in the hopes of warding off evil spirits and infertility,” according to History.com.
Now, doesn’t that make you want to go out and buy candy, flowers, and expensive jewelry?
We may do many things, sometimes not knowing the reasons behind them, but we continue to do them anyway. And that shouldn’t disqualify us from doing them. However, we must always understand that some things are impossible without blood, sweat, tears, and sacrifice, not to mention opposition from what can easily feel like evil spirits. But when we work through those obstacles and push past the opposing forces, we can create sweet, beautiful, and delightfully smelling creations. It’s what happened to me when I penned my first novel. It’s what kept me going when I felt like giving up.
When we pour our hearts and souls into something, we should not focus on the negativity we face but fix our eyes on the end product. In our relationships, in our workplace, when learning new skills, or in academics, we should note what we would like to see and not solely on what we currently see. As we go through this month of February, know your passions and what your heart desires, go for them with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength and watch the fruit of your labor flourish forth like flowers in February.