If ever there were a holiday I defined as over commercialized, it would be Valentine’s Day. Men are forced into overspending for roses and chocolates. Restaurant reservations must be made weeks in advance. Attempts are made at the perfect words to say I Love You in overpriced Hallmark cards.
However, in complete truth, more recently, I haven’t minded it.
I used to. Once upon a time, I was on the bandwagon of “we should show love every day of the year”.
While this is true, now I allow the pinks and reds of Valentine’s Day to overcome me with the warm surge of nostalgia. I’m sent back to a time where things were simpler, stress free, and filled with sugary goodness. Where writing your name on the back of a cardboard cut-out Valentine was the biggest concern in life and the hope that even if that special someone didn’t know you existed* at least Mom and Dad would send you a candy gram at school.
*Let’s be real, in elementary school, we were all lost in the clouds.
The first Valentine’s Day when Hubby and I were dating, we spent about two hours waiting for our dinner reservation because the restaurant had overbooked and overcrowded itself.
I blame this for my sour mood to Valentine’s Day. Yet, over the years, I’ve come to appreciate the holiday simply for what it stands for: Love.
Isn’t love worth having a special day set aside to celebrate?
And, for those of you who feel as I once felt, couldn’t we argue every holiday holds some value which should be promoted 365 days rather than one day?
So, today, I hope you love deep and wide. I hope you allow love to be limitless; that you don’t define love as store purchased cards, overpriced flowers, and heart shaped chocolates. I hope you cherish all which is around you and, most importantly, be giving with your love.
Leave a Reply