Happy February 2026, everyone!

As I write this column, it is Sunday, January 4th. It is 51 degrees outside and sunny. Wild! I have lived in Omaha my entire life, and weather is always at the top of everyone’s mind. We talk about it with strangers standing in line at the grocery store. We watch our weather apps like hawks because, as we all know, everything could change this afternoon. We also know that those weather apps are wrong more than they are right! The long-range forecast for the next two weeks has our highs mostly in the mid to high 40s, with a few days in the 30s. I will take it. I admit, however, that it’s kind of strange. 

February brings us lots of different days to celebrate. 

February 2nd is Groundhog Day. It’s the day when Punxsutawney Phil emerges from his burrow in Pennsylvania. If he sees his shadow, we’ll have six more weeks of winter. If not? Winter is over. February 2nd is also my niece, Amber McClelland’s, birthday. Happy birthday, Amber!

Next is February 14th—Valentine’s Day. Hearts, flowers, candy, love! This is a terrific day to tell the people in your life how much they mean to you. This is a day to connect not only with your romantic interest but with your family and friends. Seize the day to tell those people that you love them…give them a hug, send them a text…whatever works best for you.

February 17th is also Random Acts of Kindness Day, which was founded in 1995. The concept is to make kindness the norm. I love this day! The goal is to perform anonymous or unexpected acts of kindness. There are lots of ways to participate—buy a coffee for the person who is behind you in the coffee line; buy a meal for the family next to you at the restaurant; donate food to the food bank; leave positive sticky notes in public places. The concept is that those who receive kindness will pay it forward.

One fun February celebration that many people don’t know about is on February 20th—national Hoodie Hoo Day. This is crazy fun! At noon, everyone goes outside, waves their arms, and yells “Hoodie-Hoo!” This demonstration is to chase away winter and welcome spring. It will also make you all laugh out loud.

Back to Valentine’s Day…I want to wish my husband, Manny, a very happy Valentine’s Day! I love you, Manny! We are into our seventh year of marriage, and it keeps getting better. We are learning, growing, changing, and loving each day.

Manny and I recently added a daily affirmation to our shared calendar. It is simple: Same team. Same heart. It reminds me every day how important our marriage is to me. I think it does the same for Manny!

Hope you all enjoy each and every day this month!