Loving's the thing, right? So why is it so cool to hate Valentine's Day? For some of us, to be against it for the mere commercialism is just an excuse (turn off the iPod and your laptop, put down the Starbucks on your Pottery Barn table, wipe the crumbs off your Banana Republic pants and get real). It's not only the single people among us, either. Attached, married and otherwise taken souls can also rage against the love machine that is the holiday de amor.
But there is some value in taking a day to reflect on our relationships. Sure, we can say we strive to live in an all-the-time lovefest, but that is neither realistic nor a worthwhile goal. The daily tedium takes precedence, from taking out the garbage to bathing the dog. Just as at Thanksgiving, which is becoming more commercial each year (where did those inflatable yard turkeys come from?), we should be thankful year-round, but pausing to recharge our thankfulness is a welcome respite from the ho-hum-drum of taking care of business. So should the celebration of St. Valentine.
No matter your situation in life, Feb. 14 can be special ...
You can send flowers to your lover or best friend. Few people hate flowers.
You can plan a picnic with someone special.
You can spread random acts of kindness (Ha! You thought that phrase was dead!) among friends and strangers.
It's a good day to fill your heart with happy feelings.
Hold someone's hand. In public.
Sounds like a good reason to wield an actual pen and write a note to someone dear to you.
Why not pick up a phone and call someone you've lost touch with?
Wear red. Nobody outside of professsional sports and prostitution wears red often enough.
If you are so inclined, buy a nice gift for your significant other, or yourself.
Tell someone you love them, whether it's the first time or just as a reminder. Say the actual words, too.
There's no need to shell out money for diamonds or other sparkly things. After all, in elementary school unless Valentine's Days past provide particularly sour memories all it took was a simple card with Superman, Spiderman or Hello Kitty on it to make us feel special. Lord knows we can all use the love. Let's bring some of it back.
I agree.
It's only a "Hallmark Holiday" if you make it one.
My Dad every couple of years gets all of his girls (wife + 5 daughters) Valentine's cards and chocolates or flowers. We never expect it because some year's there's a lapse. It makes it all the more special when it does happen.
He used to always get us girls little packages of cinnamon hearts when we were kids...it was sweet.
Because of him, i'll always have good feelings about Valentine's Day, even when i'm single.
:)
AHH, thanks for bringing the happiness of Valentines's Day back for me.
How can you not love valentines day??? I heart you T-bone! Happy Early Val Day! Insert quirky Spongebob here.
I say send chocolate instead of flowers..lol
I lost track of you there for a while when my hard-drive crashed and lost all my favorites. Thank God for links on comments! And you're so right. The point you made about commercialism was spot on. We are all walking advertisements, and might as well wear our clothes inside out so the labels show. Happy Valentine's Day, and thanks for making it mean something again!
Hahaha, I love your words "rage against the love machine."
You're right.
I've railed against it (for the commercialism you point out) yet still honored it (for the affection toward my loved ones). What's the point of that...
My days of hypocricy are over... 100% honoring henceforth.
Okay, wanna know how miss goody two shoes celebrated? We had a rip roaring party, toddler style at my house with tons of sugar. My luvvy duvvy bought me a "college bunny" and the two year old stripped in the middle of the living room in front of perfect strangers because she wanted to put on the frog costume so she could be my Valentine Frog. Don't say we never have any fun around here.