Publisher - February 2026

My dear,

In the midst of hate, I found there was, within me, an invincible love.

In the midst of tears, I found there was, within me, an invincible smile.

In the midst of chaos, I found there was, within me, an invincible calm.

I realized, through it all, that…In the midst of winter, I found there was,
within me, an invincible summer.

And that makes me happy. For it says that no matter how hard the world pushes against me, within me, there’s something stronge—
something better, pushing right back.

Truly yours,
Albert Camus
Philosopher

Are you ready for February—the month saturated in pink and red, filled with hearts, chocolates, flowers, cards…and love.

Just as January is the month we all want to jumpstart our workout routines, projects and goals, let’s make February the month to ignite a renewal of love—of yourself, of your significant other, of your family and friends and of the world.

As such, I declare February the month to re-engage! We all understand what it means to get engaged—to pledge oneself. So, let’s pledge to get re-engaged with our lives, our community, our hearts, our blessings—all of it.

I believe as a society many of us have forgotten how good we have it. This doesn’t mean we don’t have problems, it means that by simply living in the Lowcountry, in South Carolina, in the United States of America, we can forge, at the very least, fairly convenient lives. And if we pay attention and engage, we can have a wonderful existence. Actively engaging in counting our blessings brings us closer to love and happiness.

I picked up a hound dog one morning on I-26 driving from Columbia back to the Island. My intention was to rescue her from getting run over and take her to an animal rescue. The outcome was having a second dog for 14 years. She was a mess when I picked her up, covered in fleas and ticks, positive for heart worms, she had an abscessed tooth, and a big dirt stain around her neck from where she had been chained before she escaped to the middle of the highway for a better life. She had also never been spayed. And for all 14 years, she was a bad girl even though her life became really cushy. We named her Pancake, but we should have called Miss Behavior. She never even tried to be good, and we let her live inside. I constantly asked God why that dog was put in my life, what lesson was I supposed to learn from this wayward country beagle-mix that my cousin called “1000-dollar bill.” (Hence, the initial vet bill.)

My daughter, who was 8 years old when Pancake came into our lives, loved that dog with all her heart. She had what I call “mother’s eyes” for her. She never let Pancake’s behavior harden her or turn her sour towards her, even when she had to clean up after her, chase her, or forfeit her belongings when Pancake chewed them up. She had a steadfast soft spot for her.

Well, guess what, I finally understand the lesson: Our world has strayed too far away from having soft spots for each other, and it’s making me realize how important it is to not become hard-hearted. I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to make a conscious effort to lighten up, soften up, and allow my heart to re-engage. I hope you are, too, because America would be a better place. And as women, this is a part of our calling. We are the gurus of soft spots. It’s a deeply personal decision to go through the day purposefully putting away our anger and defensiveness and actively being kind and soft-hearted. Re-engaging starts with us, and it can only happen within each one of us.

American author Kurt Vonnegut said, “Be soft. Do not let the world make you hard. Do not let the pain make you hate. Do not let the bitterness steal your sweetness. Take pride that even though the rest of the world may disagree, you still believe it to be a beautiful place.” He penned these words in spite of fighting in WWII, being captured by the Germans, interned in Dresden, and surviving the Allied bombing of the city in a meat locker of a slaughterhouse where he was imprisoned.

Be soft. Do not let the world make you hard.

Do me a favor: Take some deep breaths and allow your heart to soften. Can you feel it? It feels good, like the lift of brokeness after an ugly cry—solace, relief, peace. Put down, turn off, and just say “no” to the emotional burdens of the world that aren’t yours to carry and live your one precious life with a wonderful, kind, big, soft heart.

Friends, don’t forget about Pink’s new book club (pg. 14) and the Pink Partini Heartini (pg. 4). Come be a part of the positive Pink Community. Happy Valentine’s Day…remember to fill it with softness!

Think Pink,
Elizabeth Millen