After a rather enlightening conversation with a friend, I figured the topic would make a pretty decent blog entry considering the day. Yes, today is Valentine’s Day. For those with significant others, it’s a rather bittersweet holiday. Most use this day as an excuse to show a little more love than usual, and it’s generally accepted that it will be reciprocated in kind. That’s the sweet part. The bitter part is the draining of the wallet, as most people feel a great desire to use this day, above all others, to express feelings of love and happiness… and it has been commercialized thusly. Hence, roses are no longer $12 for a dozen. Add a zero, kids.
The striking thing about Valentine’s Day is that these feelings or expressions of love aren’t done spontaneously every day. If you really dig someone, why wait until February 14th to hire a sky writer, buy a life-size teddy bear, send a dozen roses to their workplace, or surprise them with a dinner at that nice, fancy restaurant across town? Why hide all that stuff throughout the year? For something to be truly amazing, it must have amazing qualities. Waiting until the day of expected surprises (and thus not really a surprise, right?) is ordinary, and far from amazing. Relationships are what you put into them. It’s par for the course. The standard. Expected. Additionally, if everyone did these things randomly… on a whim… throughout the year… would not the world be a much happier place? Wouldn’t it be reasonable to assume that everyone’s quality of life would be much higher if all the stress and everyday monotony of that life were interrupted with random acts of love and kindness? Perhaps I’m simply too much of an idealist about love and relationships. A hopeless romantic, if I may be so bold as to suggest.
That, in itself, is rather interesting considering the number of times I’ve been burned, stabbed, gouged, stomped or crushed… in the heart. Given my ordinarily realistic view about all other facets of life, I’d say that’s downright miraculous. Idealist? Only about love, it seems.
After discussing this at length with my friend (who brought a unique view from the the other gender’s side of the table), it seems that it’s much easier to remain optimistic and upbeat about love and relationships if a “burn victim” learns what started and how to prevent the fire in the first place. In short, as long as you learn a realistic and objective lesson from a break-up, and apply it to your next relationship, it’s fair to assume that relationships and love will get progressively better with each one. So single people… don’t lose heart. Instead, look forward to the next opportunity. Apply what you know and the next relationship will be your best yet.
Alright… </sappyBullshitRant>
I guess, in closing, Happy Valentine’s Day to all of you… even if it is disgustingly commercialized.
