OK so I wanted to blog a bit about Valentine's day. One thing that really bothers me is that people get SO mad about it. It isn't what it was meant to be, I don't think --- for those of you who don't know the origins, they go pretty far back! Saint Valentine was alive in the 200's A.D. The emperor of that time didn't want people to get married, because he thought it was keeping men from joining the army, so he forbid them to marry. Saint Valentine continued to perform marriage ceremonies secretly, and was put in jail. Many young people wrote him kind letters while he was there. He wrote back, and signed them "Your Valentine," things like that. (Saint Valentine died on February 14th, 269 A.D.) That's where we get it.
See, it wasn't about romantic love or love only meant for couples, it's meant for everyone. Valentine's day is a day meant to show love --- to everyone in your life. That's why I love the day so much. I've always liked to say I love you and give love (probably too much :)) to the people in my life, and I enjoy it, so it just gives me an excuse to say it in bigger, bright red, heart-covered, chocolatey ways. :)
I think there is probably too much pressure put on the day, too. Either men feel pressured so they get mad or bitter and don't do much (if anything) for their loved ones, or they try to outdo each other... And at the same time, women often expect too much. I wish there wasn't so much expectation, but there is.
All that really matters is that you make an effort to show the people you love love on this special day.
I hope I can teach my kids not to have one "Valentine" when they are young, so they get the idea that everyone around them is a Valentine, someone who deserves special love. When you're older, of course you do more for the person you're in a relationship with, because that's the person you tend to want to show love the most. But don't forget your family and friends.
PS: I know three couples who got in fights on Valentine's Day. Just goes to show you we have put too many standards on the day!
See, it wasn't about romantic love or love only meant for couples, it's meant for everyone. Valentine's day is a day meant to show love --- to everyone in your life. That's why I love the day so much. I've always liked to say I love you and give love (probably too much :)) to the people in my life, and I enjoy it, so it just gives me an excuse to say it in bigger, bright red, heart-covered, chocolatey ways. :)
I think there is probably too much pressure put on the day, too. Either men feel pressured so they get mad or bitter and don't do much (if anything) for their loved ones, or they try to outdo each other... And at the same time, women often expect too much. I wish there wasn't so much expectation, but there is.
All that really matters is that you make an effort to show the people you love love on this special day.
I hope I can teach my kids not to have one "Valentine" when they are young, so they get the idea that everyone around them is a Valentine, someone who deserves special love. When you're older, of course you do more for the person you're in a relationship with, because that's the person you tend to want to show love the most. But don't forget your family and friends.
PS: I know three couples who got in fights on Valentine's Day. Just goes to show you we have put too many standards on the day!
2 comments:
There's no pressure when you're single. : )
There's even more pressure when you're single - pressure to get in a relationship, pressure to act like you don't care, whatever... :) ha.
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