I was just reading that March 27th was “National Joe Day.” It seems to be one of those obscure holidays with the purpose of having fun and honoring. Having fun and doing something good? Oh yes, it has my husband, Joe, written all over it. Although not designated by Congress as an official national holiday, it does not stop people from having fun celebrating it every year on March 27th.

According to ehow.com’s article on “How to Celebrate National ‘Joe’ Day”…

“the term comes from the Scottish word “joe,” meaning “sweetheart,” but has evolved to refer to the working-class everyman. As terms like “average Joe” and “ordinary Joe” came into the vernacular, a Joe came to be known as a regular guy or sometimes the underdog.”

The link goes on to encourage people to take time to celebrate National Joe Day in some of the following ways:

 

• Show your solidarity with the Joes of the world by becoming one for the day by changing your name to Joe or one of its variations, like Joleen for women.

• Treat yourself, your coworkers or friends to coffee, since Joe is a slang word for coffee. You can also pay it forward by treating the next person in line to a cup of Joe.

• Be Joe Cool like Snoopy from Charles Schultz’s popular comic strip, “Peanuts.”

• Show your gratitude to soldiers for their service, since Government Issue Joe, or G.I. Joe, is a popular term that refers to the average soldier.

Although National Joe Day was a week ago, there is never a bad time to honor and show gratitude to people, especially to the “sweethearts” in our lives. And, of course, there is never a bad time to have fun.

My husband, Joe, would always say that we should not wait for holidays to show our love and appreciation for people, that we should do that every day. That is exactly what he did and, of course, always had fun doing it. That was Joe.

As I was reading various sites about National Joe Day, I began thinking how Joe used to make my coffees in the mornings, when I was studying, pulling all-nighters preparing for exams or working on projects, or just enjoying good books or movies with each other. Joe always seemed to know when it was the perfect time for coffee and always made it with such love and gave it to me with such a genuine smile and a tender look that warmed my heart even more than my body.

Joe was a perfectionist. He paid attention to details in everything he did, especially in showing his love. When he made my coffee, he didn’t just pour coffee from the coffee pot and handed me the creamer. Oh no. Joe took his time making me delicious and beautiful looking lattes, with special spices and flavors and unique well thought out, carefully crafted designs. As I remember these delicious, beautiful works for art, my mouth waters, my lips smile, and my heart is refilled with love, gratitude, and joy.

I share this with you because (I don’t know who first said that “Love is in the details.”) But, yes, love is indeed in the details. It is proven in the little details we do for each other every day. Don’t take them for granted. So many people wait for big expensive gifts or long expensive vacations and they miss out by not seeing or appreciating the most amazing, priceless gifts that people give them – their love, their time, and themselves.

Love is proven and felt in the details, including in the cups of coffee we give and receive with love. At the end, it is these little details embedded in what may have seemed ordinary moments that you will remember and wish you still had.

National Joe Day may have been a week ago, but, for me, it is always National Joe Day! My husband, Joe, and my memories of him are in my mind. His love is in my heart. And, his wisdom is in my actions. As you know, this website and blog is dedicated to him. And, I honor him with every blog post I write.

Help me celebrate National Joe Day everyday by living life intentionally and honoring the Joes, the sweethearts, in your lives:

Start Again, Not Over

Attention
Pay Attention to the moments and the little details people do for you and those you can do for people.

Intention
Make the Intention to not take people or the little details for granted. Make the Intention to appreciate the people in your life and the moments you get to share with them and they get to share with you.

Action
Take Action. Just like Joe, be a perfectionist when showing your love. Work on the details of the things you do for people and appreciate and show your gratitude for the details that are in the things people do for you.

And, if you also want to love with a cup of Joe, tea, or any other favorite beverage, here are three ways you can do that, too:

Celebrate and enjoy the sweetheart in your life
Show your partner your love by making or buying him or her a cup of coffee and giving it to him or her with a side of you – your intentional company and undivided attention. Enjoy and be grateful for the coffee and, most importantly, for your love, your loved one, and the time you get to spend with each other.

Honor a sweetheart, who is no longer with you
Buy a stranger a cup of coffee in your sweetheart’s name. By paying it forward and buying a stranger a cup of Joe, you will not only be honoring your loved one but you may also be brightening somebody’s day that needed to be brighten.

Honor and celebrate the real love of your life
Although, the ehow.com’s article on National Joe Day was the best article I found about the topic, I do not agree that you would be a “selfish Joe” if you bought yourself a cup of coffee. On the contrary, I think that would be a great self-care act because it is essential to love and spend time with your True Authentic Self. In fact, according to Don Jose Ruiz, co-author of the Fifth Agreement, the real love of your life should be you – the real you. (more on this in future posts). Therefore, buy and enjoy a cup of coffee with the love of your life – your True Authentic Self.

Enjoy and love! Love and enjoy!

How and with whom will you love with a cup of Joe? What details will you use to show your love? What details do see and appreciate in being loved?

Feel free to share your thoughts below. We would love to hear from you.