My Issue with St. Valentine’s Day
Yes, I know Valentine’s Day is this Thursday, but I felt this blog post needed to be written before that day. I hope everyone gets a chance to read this. Maybe this will make you rethink about the holiday.
When I was younger, St. Valentine’s Day was great, mostly. I remember having a little box to receive Valentines from my class. Sometimes I would get candy, which was nice as well, unless it was chocolate. I’m lactose intolerant. Lately I’ve noticed my reaction to lactose isn’t as bad as it once was. So now I can have a piece of milk chocolate and I’m all right. I just have to limit it. For a long time, I couldn’t have milk chocolate because it make me sick. So during holidays that included chocolates like Halloween and Valentine’s Day, I would have to separate my candy and give away any chocolate. Suddenly my stash of candy looked smaller, which would make me sad a bit, but then I realized at least I had a bit of candy that I could have. By the way, if you get chocolate for Valentine’s Day, make sure it’s Fair-Trade.
As time as gone on, I’ve tried my best to send Valentines to friends of mine, with candy or without, even if I didn’t receive anything back. I just liked the idea of my friends receiving a little valentine that reminded them that they are loved. Now it’s much harder for me to do that, especially since I don’t have money to buy Valentines, but sometimes I’ve created my own. It just takes more time. I’ve been busy lately so I haven’t had the time.
Though that’s not my main issue about Valentine’s Day, it’s the fact that from the beginning of February (sometimes earlier) till Valentine’s Day. I’m reminded, almost everywhere, about the day that seems all about couples. I know it’s suppose to be about all kinds of love, and I try to remind myself and others about that. We’ve also forgotten that this holiday was created because a saint who sacrificed his life for love. He is a reminder about the greatest love of all. “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13)
Though it’s difficult for those who are single. It’s not all about the flowers, candy, and the stuffed animals… but they are nice. Those who are single, just want to have a partner that they love to be with on that special day, but they sadly don’t. Some will go out and try to enjoy the time as a single person, and try to celebrate Single Awareness Day. Others will stay and watch a movie, or hang out with other single friends. Or they will have a lot of things to do that day because it’s a Thursday, and not have much time.
I have a group of friends who are in relationships, and a few friends who are single. I really wanted to make this year different and have fun with my single friends. Though it will be kind of hard since the day lands on a Thursday. Some of my friends who aren’t single, remind me that I should be happy that I don’t have to deal with the drama of being in a relationship, but I don’t want to hear that any more. They have gotten a chance at something that others haven’t. Even though I’ve dated, I’ve never been in a romantic relationship. Just like a lot of singles out there, we want a chance to be in a relationship, and hopefully some day one that will be the forever kind. One of my friends last year, who had recently gotten into a relationship, knew I wasn’t really happy about Valentine’s Day. Tabitha noticed that people were selling stuffed animals on a table at the local university campus on Valentine’s Day. One of the stuffed animals was a panda bear. She knew that my little cousin and I liked pandas. So she bought a panda bear, and came by my house to drop it off that day. During the day, I was feeling a bit depressed, and when she came over, it was like a bright ray of sunshine had broken through the gray clouds. Receiving that panda bear was the best Valentine’s Day gift ever.
It still doesn’t make sense why Valentine’s Day still bothers me. Especially since I love writing about romance into my stories. I understand the value of what romance, or any kind of love, can add to a story. We all need love. Even The Beatles would agree with me. In all kinds of stories, love is interwoven. Sometimes it is noticeable, and other times it’s a bit harder to find. It’s there. Even the absence of love, can be a large factor into the story as well. We write about love to share our experiences, but also because we continue to desire to experience different kinds of love. When we read, and write, we’re experiencing a life unlike our own. It gives us a chance to explore, and experience about life. Love is so much a part of our lives, that it just makes sense it would show up in our stories.
I’ve always been a romantic. I try to believe that true love really does exist, even in a world filled with heartache. Though it might just be because I’ve had so many great examples in my life that marriages can work, and last. I can see it in real life and on the page. I don’t want to lose faith that I will find a man who will love me here on earth that can be my companion, friend, lover, partner, and supporter. I don’t want anyone else to lose faith either, because if we do than we may never find it. Some day isn’t today, but hopefully it will come soon.
I want to be happy about those who do have that kind of love. I truly do. I just have to remind myself that I’m loved, that’s what matters really. That way I can be a reminder for others that day as well. To everyone, let this Valentine’s Day be a reminder that you’re the spark that can become a flame. Make sure you show all those who you care about that you love them, it doesn’t have to be a Valentine exactly. Just your own way of telling them how you feel. You could even write them a short story, or even a poem! Also let others, who you may not really know, that they are just as important and show them kindness. For writers, make some time to write about love that day to remind yourself that love is important in a story, and in real life. If you have single friends, remind them that they are loved and make sure that they receive a ray of sunshine during a gray cloudy day. Remind them all to “Pay It Forward.” You never know, you might change someone’s life forever with one little act of kindness, and that can spread farther than your corner of the world.
Don’t let the love end on Valentine’s Day, keep sharing the love always.
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