MSI Press Blog

  Valentine’s Day magnifies whatever emotional patterns are already present. High EQ doesn’t make the day more romantic — it makes it more real . 1. Self‑Awareness: “What story am I telling myself about this day?” Valentine’s Day is loaded with cultural scripts. High EQ asks: Which parts of this script are mine, and which are inherited? Am I expecting mind‑reading? Am I performing romance instead of expressing it? Am I reacting to the day or to old memories attached to it? Valentine’s Day becomes a mirror. 💞 2. Empathy: The holiday is rarely symmetrical Two people almost never feel the same way about February 14. High EQ recognizes: One partner may love ritual; the other may feel pressured by it. One may crave reassurance; the other may express love through quiet consistency. One may be grieving; the other may be celebrating. Empathy turns the day from a performance into a conversation. 💬 3. Communication: The antidote to Valentine’s Day anxiety EQ reframes ...

  The day after Valentine’s Day is its own kind of holiday — quieter, unadorned, and strangely revealing. It’s the emotional hangover after the glitter has settled. The flowers are still on the table, but they’ve already begun their slow wilt. The chocolates have been picked over. The cards sit open on the counter, their sweetness suddenly louder in the stillness. The day after joy always has a different temperature. It’s not just Valentine’s Day. It’s the day after a long‑awaited trip, the day after a family gathering that briefly made the world feel whole, the day after a celebration where you let yourself forget the hard parts of life. When the music stops, the silence can feel like a drop in altitude. You land back in your real life with a soft thud. There’s something sobering about that return. Sometimes even depressing. Because joy — real joy — lifts us. It suspends the weight we carry. It lets us forget the logistics, the griefs, the responsibilities, the chronic worri...

  Sula is back on duty at the Mission Gift Shop at Old Mission San Juan Bautista on Sundays, but she is taking Valentine's Day off, but has sent greetings. Now in semi-retirement, in part because of health (she is fighting cancer for the fourth time), she spends Sundays ministering to people at the various Masses, helping out in the gift shop, and receiving pets, accolades, and gifts from those who love her.  On this Valentine's Day, relaxing at her godparents' house, where she is spending her retirement except for her Sunday duty days, Sula reiterates a tweet from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA): This Valentine's Day, help mend the broken hearts of unwanted and helpless animals who feel that they've been forgotten. Just $19 a month can help the ASPCA provide love and care for neglected animals across the country. Make an urgent gift TODAY. HERE is where to reach the ASPCA. You can read more posts by and about Sula and her boo...

Dear Carl, Tomorrow is Valentine's day, the first one without you. I want you to know that I received the note above a couple of days after you died. I do not know why it took over a week to reach me; perhaps I was distracted with your dying and spending every minute I could with you even though you were barely aware (seemingly) of what was going on around you. I am told that with the brain fog from hypercalcemia and chemotherapy, it would have taken much effort for you to be able to get online and write this note. I am so glad that you did. That note is the centerpiece on our bureau now. Thank you, too, for the poppies. I know you loved California poppies; that is why I asked you to send me poppy flowers after you died so that I would know that you are okay. Well, even though all the flower books say that poppy season ended six months ago, you have done a good job of keeping at least a couple of the poppy plants blooming. The one at the bottom of the hill had three blossoms yester...

  Today's tip for parents from two talented teachers comes from  365 Teacher Secrets for Parents  by Cindy McKinley Alder and Patti Trombly.                                                              #121 Holidays   He who asks is a fool for five minutes, but he who does not ask remains a fool forever.  ~Chinese Proverb   So many children complain about not having anything to write about. The trick is to offer them real reasons to write, and then it will most likely be fun and easy for them to do. Holidays are perfect days to try this. From major holidays like Christmas and Hanukkah to fun ones like April Fool’s Day, special days provide special opportunities for writing. Try the ideas below to get your child writing today for all the fun reasons!   ●       N...