Valentine's Day

I have never understood why there is such an emphasis to have the perfect date, to give or receive the perfect gift on Valentine’s Day. As tomorrow fast approaches half my friends lament over the fact they will be dateless while a vast majority of my male friends are complaining over the pressure they feel to make Sunday the utopia of all dates.

I am trying to determine since when did it become necessary, if a person loved or cared about another they had to demonstrate it by buying a gift or planning the perfect dinner date? For that matter, when did having a date on this one day determine the fate of your love life? If Valentine’s Day is not perfect does that mean we are not loved or cared about? Do any of us really need one day to show us what love is or isn’t in our life? Shouldn’t we already know and be thankful for what love we do have in our life?

For the past several weeks, florist, jewelry stores, teddy bear companies, all have been advertising buy her the perfect gift. So how original and thoughtful is it to give a dozen roses and/or a diamond necklace on Valentine’s Day? Not original at all, they are just following the trend. Do we really need a card that says I love you, shouldn’t we already know that?

I have never been a very sentimental “frou-frou” type person. I would prefer to be given a card that makes me laugh then a card that gushes romantic verse. I have never been a fan of roses, gerbera daisies are more my style. I don’t like fancy chocolate; I am a Hershey’s girl at heart. Diamonds, I don’t own one, never been given one, don’t really like them. Amethyst or Apatite will make me smile more. Just because one is given a precious gem or any other piece of jewelry does not mean they are loved more. I have plenty of friends who are donned in expensive jewelry but are no longer “in love”, no longer happy. Call me a non-traditionalist, I don’t need a symbol to wear; I should feel the love in my heart every day.

When did Valentine’s Day become so important? I would much rather be given a bouquet of wild flowers in June, then a dozen roses on Valentine’s Day. An unexpected Kit Kat bar from Wawa says I love you more than the silly heart shaped boxes that can be found at every retailer. An email or text message in the middle of the day simply saying, hello or I love you will make my heart smile more than a Hallmark Valentine’s card. You ask why? When given those little random gifts throughout the year, it means he is giving a small token of affection without cause. It didn’t take a commercial to make him buy the gift; he was thinking of me. Nothing says I love you more than an impetuous/impulsive gift no matter how small or silly.

To all the people who do not have a date on Valentine’s Day, take the pressure off yourself; say out loud, no big deal. I am 46 years old and I have spent more Valentine’s Days dateless/single than I have with a boyfriend. I realized a long time ago, the only love I need to make my life complete is the love of my family, my friends and myself. Take to heart; no one can ever truly be happy if they rely solely on someone else to make them happy. Too many times we single people forget, just because a person has a spouse, a boy friend or girl friend, it does not mean their life is perfect.

Hopefully one day soon the commercialism and stress will be removed from Valentines’ Day. Until then why don’t we take the pressure of our significant others and ourselves, realize those other 364 days in the year are just as important in the game of love.