14 Feb What Valentine’s day really means

What Valentine’s day really means

So today on Valentine’s day I am starting a week-long series about love.

We have pumped up Valentine’s day into a mass media marketing day. A one billion dollar day to “show” our love. You must show the one you love, how much you love them on this day. You must take them out, buy them presents, flowers and cards because it is your duty because it’s Valentine’s day.

Here’s the thing, do you show your love to that other person for the rest of the year? Do you tell them you love them regularly? Do you do kind things for them throughout the year? Or is it this one day and then that’s it?

My stepdad didn’t believe in all of that, not the flowers or the cards, but he showed he loved my mom in so many other ways. He polished her work shoes every night. He went out at 10:30 every night to clean the snow off her car and warm up the car for her before she left for work.

He had her coffee waiting for her, the dishwasher emptied and the kitchen cleaned every morning when she came home from working the night shift at the local dinner.

My mom told him she loved him every day, she made sure he had his glass of wine every night at dinner. She worked right beside him on every project they did on our house, that’s love. That’s what they showed to each other all year long and that showed me what true love was.

Look I am as romantic as the next person, maybe more so, as I am a Libra after all. But believe me, if I could have given back every flower or phony card to have my ex-husband treat me well for the other 364 days a year, instead of this one day, I would have, in a heartbeat.

Tell me why do we need these “Days” to remind us to do something nice? Valentine’s day, Mother’s day, Father’s day? Hell, we even have a national “Eat dinner with your kids” day, really you need a national day to remind you to do that? That is what is wrong in today’s society, it’s an all-about-me world, and you don’t put someone else’s needs before your own. You’re so busy doing you, you need a day to remind yourself to be sweet or kind.

I brought my mom flowers every week, just because I wanted her to know I loved her. Even when I moved 1500 miles away I still had them sent to her every Friday. I gave her and my dad cards all the time just to say I love you and thanks for putting up with me or I miss you when I moved. I give my girls cards just because…I want them to know I love them and how proud I am of them.

I am constantly calling friends and family telling them I love them and I miss them, I don’t need a day to do that, I want them to know it all year long.

Yes, cards and flowers are wonderful on Valentine’s day but if that is the only time you say I love you, then save your money, because it means nothing on this phony day.

So today my friends, take my advice, tell the people that are in your life that you love them, every day not just this day. Send them a card, and drop flowers off on a Thursday. Pick up the phone, call on the way home, and let them know the other 364 days a year that they are important in your life.

And one last thought, for you singles out there, doesn’t be sad that you’re single, enjoy your singleness. Buy yourself flowers, and go out with friends. I can tell you for a fact that not all you see with your married friends are paved with gold.

Be kind to yourself, and get a facial and or a massage, because you are important as well. Love yourself, love your family and friends, and love your life…

You only have one life to make it the best, live large, love big!

Happy Valentine’s day to all of my readers and the rest of you …
Well, you already know how I feel about you all year long…love you all to pieces!

“Be the change you want to see”