I'm not sure if it is just that Valentine's Day was a relatively low key holiday in my home when I was growing up so my expectations are not about fancy expensive gifts, or if I just like chocolate, but I have always loved Valentine's Day. It's never been a big day as far as gifts etc... Maybe a card or two, maybe chocolate, maybe a dinner out, maybe a poem ~ depends on the year. For me it's simply a day about LOVE.
For years Jeff and I would bicker about it because he sees it through the lens of consumerism and in general he dislikes all "Hallmark" holidays. Years ago I was done and clarified that I LOVE VALENTINE'S DAY. I didn't expect jewelry or fancy dinners or anything other than a little extra acknowledgement that I was loved ~ a poem written on a scrap of paper would make me happy. That year I received a lovely Haiku written by my love and I was happy.
Our conversations over the years have included talk of how we shouldn't need a special day to show our love, we should show it every day. Or, it's a day that makes single people feel bad or stresses out parents of young children who need to make Valentine's for six bajillion of their closest friends.
I get all of that. I still love Valentine's Day. Here's why.
1) For me, it's a day dedicated to LOVE - not just romantic love, but all love ~ some of my favorite Valentine's over the years have come from my children or my students.
2) It's in the middle of February and for someone with SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) it is an excellent excuse to give and get EXTRA love.
3) I love the colors pink and red and all variations.
4) While it is true that we shouldn't need a "DAY" to give those we love flowers, chocolate, poetry (whatever floats your boat), the fact is life gets busy and having a "reminder" can be a good thing.
5) It's an excellent excuse to pull out my favorite love songs to sing and dance to.
If you love Valentine's Day too, I hope you had a good one. If you hate Valentine's Day, I still hope you had a good one :-)
For years Jeff and I would bicker about it because he sees it through the lens of consumerism and in general he dislikes all "Hallmark" holidays. Years ago I was done and clarified that I LOVE VALENTINE'S DAY. I didn't expect jewelry or fancy dinners or anything other than a little extra acknowledgement that I was loved ~ a poem written on a scrap of paper would make me happy. That year I received a lovely Haiku written by my love and I was happy.
Our conversations over the years have included talk of how we shouldn't need a special day to show our love, we should show it every day. Or, it's a day that makes single people feel bad or stresses out parents of young children who need to make Valentine's for six bajillion of their closest friends.
I get all of that. I still love Valentine's Day. Here's why.
1) For me, it's a day dedicated to LOVE - not just romantic love, but all love ~ some of my favorite Valentine's over the years have come from my children or my students.
2) It's in the middle of February and for someone with SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) it is an excellent excuse to give and get EXTRA love.
3) I love the colors pink and red and all variations.
4) While it is true that we shouldn't need a "DAY" to give those we love flowers, chocolate, poetry (whatever floats your boat), the fact is life gets busy and having a "reminder" can be a good thing.
5) It's an excellent excuse to pull out my favorite love songs to sing and dance to.
If you love Valentine's Day too, I hope you had a good one. If you hate Valentine's Day, I still hope you had a good one :-)
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