I don't know about you, but I am not a big fan of Valentines Day. My negative feelings towards the holiday started around grade school. I remember sitting in class, watching delivery after delivery come to all the pretty girls in the class or to the girls who were older and had boyfriends. In junior high and high school your boyfriend was suppose to give you a gift, if not he was a looser. The feelings I felt most Valentines Days were, sad, lonely, insecure, and not enough.
Looking at Valentines Day now as a 32 year old, I feel confused. Why does society choose 1 day a year to celebrate love? Why do I buy into the idea some years, and other years I revolt? What really happens if there are no flowers, gifts, chocolates, and stuffed animals to hand out to people we love? The answer is simple...we are still enough.
The greatest commandment is, "love your neighbor as yourself." The commandment does not read, "love your neighbor on February 14th." We are supposed to love others daily, encouraging them, and walking along side them. The other part of the commandment is, "love your neighbor as yourself." If I am expecting flowers, cards, dinner, and gifts on Valentines Day, I might be setting myself up for a resentment. Expectations=Resentments
If I want flowers then I should go to the farmers markets or grocery store, and buy myself some. If I want a nice card telling me how wonderful I am, then I should try writing to myself (If I don't like myself, and can not write positive affirmations, then I probably won't believe a card that someone writes to me anyways). We all want to feel loved and special; however sometimes it takes our own initiative
Let's make a commitment this Valentines Day not to obsess, compare, set expectations upon others, and live to love for 1 day. We will love daily our neighbors, our enemies, and ourselves.
Hallie
Looking at Valentines Day now as a 32 year old, I feel confused. Why does society choose 1 day a year to celebrate love? Why do I buy into the idea some years, and other years I revolt? What really happens if there are no flowers, gifts, chocolates, and stuffed animals to hand out to people we love? The answer is simple...we are still enough.
The greatest commandment is, "love your neighbor as yourself." The commandment does not read, "love your neighbor on February 14th." We are supposed to love others daily, encouraging them, and walking along side them. The other part of the commandment is, "love your neighbor as yourself." If I am expecting flowers, cards, dinner, and gifts on Valentines Day, I might be setting myself up for a resentment. Expectations=Resentments
If I want flowers then I should go to the farmers markets or grocery store, and buy myself some. If I want a nice card telling me how wonderful I am, then I should try writing to myself (If I don't like myself, and can not write positive affirmations, then I probably won't believe a card that someone writes to me anyways). We all want to feel loved and special; however sometimes it takes our own initiative
Let's make a commitment this Valentines Day not to obsess, compare, set expectations upon others, and live to love for 1 day. We will love daily our neighbors, our enemies, and ourselves.
Hallie
RSS Feed