Some Thoughts on Valentine's Day

I still remember back in the day, when I was in elementary school, Valentine's Day was this great big fun arts and crafts party. The night before, I would sit quietly at the dining table and with the utmost care, prepare 20 perfect little valentines. One year, I made pink flowers out of construction paper. Another year, I had Pokemon-themed valentine cards ("I choose YOU, to be my Valentine!"). The rule was that everyone in the class had to get one, and at the end of the school day, I'd leave happily with a little paper bag filled with 20 different valentines and a tummy full of heart-shaped candy and pink-frosted cupcakes.

Things changed dramatically when I got to middle school and high school. The “everyone-gets-one” rule was lifted, and Valentine's Day suddenly became a popularity contest of who got the most gifts, the most chocolates, the most heart-shaped balloons. It was a day of pretentious oohs and ahhs, giddy hugs, and high-pitched squeals. Everyone was so absorbed with their own little pink and red collection that the real meaning of the holiday was long forgotten. A quiet student who was definitely not in the popular crowd, I quickly grew to dread the infamous February day.

When I started dating my first boyfriend, my attitude changed yet again. Finally, the day truly meant something, and there was a real reason to celebrate. As our first Valentine’s Day together approached, I imagined a “perfect” night together, complete with all the typical props: red roses, lit candles, chocolates, and a romantic steak dinner with red wine (even though I don’t like wine!). There would be soft music playing in the background, and we would sit and talk quietly about anything and everything, letting the evening drift slowly into night, like we had all the time in the world.

Unfortunately, reality was a different story. To begin with, attempting to dine in a fancy restaurant on the evening of Valentine’s Day was a futile idea, and the long wait, large crowds, and clanging of dishes shattered my hopes for a quiet, romantic evening. Even more, since it was a weeknight with the pressure of getting up early the next morning, the idea of staying up late in each other’s company was not very practical, . Moreover, I had had a stressful day at work and part of me wanted to do nothing but curl up on the couch and read a book.

All in all, although I've had some enjoyable Valentine’s Days, somehow, no matter who I was with or what I was doing, it never turned out to be as good as I had dreamt it up to be. The extravagant commercials and flashy store decorations that mark this holiday have become so ingrained in us that we've come to expect a degree of magic and splendor that just doesn't exist.

In the end, Valentine’s Day is not about the chocolates, the flowers, or the cards, but rather, it is about taking the time to show your special someone just how important they are to you. It is about showing them how much you care and how much you appreciate all they have done for you. It is a time to celebrate the love and effort you have both put into your relationship. 

There is a famous song with a line that goes, “If you fall in love with the right person, then everyday will be like Valentine’s Day.”And when you think about it, it couldn't be more true. When you are really with the right person, you should already be doing all of those things anyway, and more than just once a year!

So, I hope everyone has a great Valentine’s Day, but I also hope that you will remember to look beyond the overwhelming sea of pink and red, and give some thought to what the day is really about.