Thought you might like some fun valentine factoids to help keep love flowing today:

1. Around 3,500 B.C., during the times of the Sumerians (they invented writing), a love poem to the goddess Inanna, known as the Queen of Heaven and Earth, was written in a clay tablet. It’s the oldest surviving love poem – can you imagine how long it took to write?

2. The oldest known Valentine was sent in 1415 A.D. by the Duke of Orleans to his French wife who was imprisoned in the Tower of London. It’s still on display in a museum in England.

3. In the Middle Ages, young men and women would draw names from a bowl to see who their valentine would be, then they would wear this name on their sleeve for a week. Today, when we show people how we feel, we’re said to “wear our heart on our sleeve.”

4. In 1913 Hallmark started making Valentine’s Cards! And, now, about 1 billion Valentine’s Day cards are exchanged every year.

5. About 3% of pets receive gifts on Valentine’s Day. Although when I was in the pet store, making sure my wonder-dog Koko didn’t run out of peanut butter flavored Gooberlicious treats, it looked like every pet in America will get a present.

6. Besides the U.S., Canada, Mexico, France, U.K. and Australia also celebrate Valentine’s Day.

7. Ah! FLOWERS! You probably can guess that February 14th is the busiest single day of the year for florists (followed by Mother’s Day).

8. And speaking of flowers, about 15% of women in the U.S. send themselves flowers for Valentine’s Day. Good for all those women who know they deserve flowers!

Although I didn’t officially send myself flowers, you can bet I have sweet, brightly colored, fragrant flowers I bought for myself and arranged with joy. They travel throughout the day: in my healing studio when I work, my kitchen when I cook, and in my bedroom at night.

So let’s remember to think about all the people, animals, plants and places we love…and also remember it’s okay to wear that love on our sleeves.

Your intuitive valentine,

Karen Lamark Wilson