Love, ladies and gentleman, is in the air. The pink and hearts and sugary sweet cupcakes will soon descend upon us, and as a single lady, I can say that Valentine’s day always brings some interesting reactions. My friends look at me with pity filled eyes as I detail the chocolates my mom sent me and my plans to finally do my laundry while they are all out, dancing around on the wings of love.
I, however, do not pity myself. Why? Because you can’t pity something you have never had. Confession time people….. I have never, never, had a valentine. Yep. I have never been dating someone significant when the trusty 14th of February rolled around. And so while everyone else views it as a day for the intimate and magical romance shared with that special someone, I view it as a day where I will probably manage to get chocolate from someone and wear obnoxious amounts of pink.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I appreciate Valentine’s Day because I appreciate love. Love, is one of the most misunderstood yet important, the most commonly used but distinctly felt, the most trite and the most special words you can use in our entire vocabulary. I think a holiday which celebrates such a word, which celebrates such a thing as love, is worth our attention and our appreciation.
Many of us immediately think of romance, boom-boxes blasting music out our window and a Prince Charming when we think of love. And that’s because Love is those things. However, love also is how your best friends bring you orange juice and nyquil when you are sick, or how your mom sends you a care package when your week is rough. It its the 5 minute dance sessions you have with your roommate, or the way a stranger waits to hold the door open for you. Its in a passing smile, a compliment, a favor, and a hug. Love is hiding in the pockets of your favorite jeans and at the bottom of your no-fat caramel cappuccino. Love is when you find your passion, and love is when you channel that passion. Love is in friends and family and strangers. Most importantly, love is in yourself.
Use love and all its meanings, and have a lovely Valentine’s Day.