Be a valentine…
Posted by admin on February 8th, 2010. Filed under: being friendly, life with titch, loving, moments that changed me.{photo via weheartit}
The dreaded Valentine’s day week is upon us.
I have a confession to make: I freaking love Valentine’s Day. Weird? Maybe. I love the pink and red (my two favorite colors, especially together!) that spill out all over stores. I love all of the cute cards and fun stuff. I love the idea of love—of a day dedicated to telling those you care about that you care. I know that some of you are thinking that of course I love it—I’m not single. But in all honesty, one of my best Valentine’s Day experiences came in one of the roughest years of my life.
My year from hell had just ended, and the boy I loved had moved back to Oregon. I was living alone, and I was lonely. My original plan for Valentine’s Day involved a lot of libations and Alanis Morrisette, but my day changed dramatically in ways I never would have expected. My good friend Matt called and asked to take me to lunch, and after lunch? Bought me a ton of See’s Candy “just because.” I was working as a massage therapist at the time, and my boss called me to help him with a massage appointment…except, when I arrived, the massage was for me, because he knew I’d been working hard and having a rough time. My mom sent me an adorable card with a Starbucks gift card. A girlfriend dropped off some daisies on my doorstep.
I felt incredibly loved, despite having absolutely NO romantic love in my life.
I’ve never forgotten that day—a day when the people around me thought about me, and did so many nice things to show me how much they loved and cared about me. Instead of being angry or bitter when I’m alone, every year I try and do something nice for someone else. I’ve made cookies for friends, brought flowers to the ladies I’ve worked with, put anonymous chocolates into other teacher’s boxes, mailed cards to faraway friends and done a variety of small, silly things to show my love to others.
This year, I’d love to challenge YOU, dear friends and readers to do the same: Be a Valentine. Maybe you don’t have a special someone to have a fancy dinner with, but do something. Send your mom a present. Donate to Love Harder. Buy lunch for a co-worker. Send a lonely friend some flowers. Pay for a stranger’s coffee at Starbucks. Tip a waitress 100% of the bill. Let someone in on the freeway. DO SOMETHING. And then? Come back and tell me about it.
Love doesn’t always come in romantic forms—let Valentine’s Day be a day when you put love into the world in some small way.
February 8th, 2010 at 1:18 am
Ahhh. Love. All love. Our dating anniversary is the 13th (which was a Friday) and leaked onto the 14th, so I pretty much adore those two days. We don’t do anything special, but it still gives me fuzzies.
Valentine’s itself would mean a lot more to me if it were the candy corn holiday! I really like the idea of sweetening someone’s day anonymously–I’ll give that a shot!
February 8th, 2010 at 6:07 am
I love this! The boyfriend and I don’t really “do” V-Day…but that’s no reason not to send a little pink & red love someone else’s way. Challenge accepted.
February 8th, 2010 at 6:10 am
I love this sentiment- instead of waiting for someone to do something for you, be that person for other people.
Again, just when ever you’re ready for us to run away together, say the word =p You’re all kinds of awesome!
February 8th, 2010 at 6:24 am
Will you be my valentine?
February 8th, 2010 at 7:00 am
I’m a bit spontaneous really and would rather do it when people don’t expect it i.e. not on Valentine’s Day! I just hate how people turn it into this big gesture and bring out cards saying “I love you” on them just on that day – what’s wrong with any other day? I don’t know, I’m some kind of Valentine Scrooge lol!
February 8th, 2010 at 7:21 am
this is my FAVORITE holiday regardless of my relationship status.
i always find ways to celebrate it.
dinners with single friends, chocolate fondue, movie night (love actually one year), i send out care packages to my parents, and a few select single girl friends…
i’m already dreadding monday because it means vday is over
February 8th, 2010 at 8:13 am
YAY! I love this post
February 8th, 2010 at 8:35 am
I’ve always loved Valentine’s Day as well, and not because I’m no longer single. In fact, until last year, I had never been taken on Valentine’s Day! My parents had always made it special for my sisters and I, buying us little chocolates and leaving love notes for us to find in the morning.
I also love doing the same for my friends. In fact, I’ve sent out Valentines to some of my blogger friends!
February 8th, 2010 at 9:04 am
That’s a wonderful idea!! I absolutely loathe Valentines . . . mainly because I think its a manufactured holiday, and because my man is a chef and has to work the ENTIRE weekend . . . but I will definately show some love to a friend. Thanks for the idea!
February 8th, 2010 at 9:07 am
This is one of the reasons I love the “ItStartsWith.Us” project – I get a little email every week with an idea of how to make a difference in a stranger’s day. They recently came up with the “Love Bombs” project, which I’m totally pumped about, too. I’m definitely going to be someone’s unexpected “Valentine”! I’m not sure how yet, but I’ll for sure come back and tell you all about it
February 8th, 2010 at 9:30 am
Love this – though I do wish more people would consider “being a valentine” the other 364 days of the year! Looking forward to thinking of something good to do and report back about. Thanks for the inspiration.
February 8th, 2010 at 10:13 am
What a wonderful reminder. I remember my first encounter with a Valentine’s day enthusiast (in the love for everyone, not just romantic couples) vent and because of her I had one of my best days in years – a nice dinner with the housemates and walk down into the cit.
February 8th, 2010 at 11:16 am
I loathe Valentine’s Day to be completely honest and even though I tried to get past it by doing sweet things for others, it never seems to make a big difference. Sad, right? Well, I am sharing my honest feelings about the day, but since you love it, I am wishing you a good one, a Valentine’s Day full of love and happiness, sweetness and surprises.
)
February 8th, 2010 at 11:43 am
I just wrote myself a note to go purchase Valentines cards for all my girlfriends.
Love this!
February 8th, 2010 at 12:34 pm
Awww, I love this.
February 8th, 2010 at 1:49 pm
You know, I’ve always loved Valentine’s Day, too. And I’ve never had a Valentine! Sure, it was hard in high school with all the lovey-dovey couples but I love the concept of a day surrounded by love. And I always celebrate it with my family and loving them.
February 8th, 2010 at 2:30 pm
Great idea! I think I will join in.
February 8th, 2010 at 4:37 pm
I really enjoy Valentines day too, even when I’ve had a boyfriend it’s never been that great or anything, I think because the relationships were either blah, or tortured. I can’t seem to do happy medium, but I like to send valentines to my single friends or to the children of my friends with kids. It’s fun! Plus, hello candy 50% off, day after, yes, please!
February 8th, 2010 at 7:58 pm
Aw I hear ya. I’m almost always single for Valentine’s (this year included) but I still love the month.
It would be nice to have a valentine tho. Lol. Ah well, my students usually treat me right.
February 8th, 2010 at 8:48 pm
I use Valentine’s Day to really just celebrate my awesomeness. A guy doesn’t do it so I’ll do it! And I do believe in treats on Valentine’s Day, flowers optional.
February 8th, 2010 at 10:40 pm
Oh wow. Your post was truly inspiring! I’ve always thought of Valentine’s Day as ‘Single’s Awareness Day’ because I’ve never been in a relationship, and have never really gotten anything. But this is such a good idea! Instead of getting drunk by myself this year (don’t judge me) I’m going to make it an effort to do something nice.
February 9th, 2010 at 11:42 am
I’m not crazy about Valentine’s Day, mostly just because this time of the year is packed with holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas, my husband’s birthday, mine, and our initial anniversary) and it comes at the end when we need a break from celebrations. I like the sentiment of doing something nice for someone, maybe on a day when they least expect it!
February 9th, 2010 at 1:52 pm
I have to say the year I chose not to celebrate valentine’s day (was last year, actually, when I had a boyfriend) was the best ever. Seriously. We went bowling and to play pool, went to see a slasher movie, drank beer and ate greasy food. It was the best most romantic day ever.
And even when i’m single I still send out love and cards because everyone can use a little love in their life. I don’t necessarily like the day but I still celebrate it cause even though I don’t, it doesn’t mean everyone else doesn’t.
February 9th, 2010 at 1:54 pm
I’m not a huge fan of valentines day but I do love the idea of letting my friends and family know that I love them. I do try to let them know year round. I love that you are encouraging people to do something nice for someone else.
February 12th, 2010 at 8:32 pm
I loved your idea. It inspired me to leave a little valentine’s day gift on the desk of a co-worker who has become a good friend over the past year. Because she recently moved into a newly-built home and she’s working on her garden, I bought her a little pot with a couple of blooming bulbs, took one of my favorite photos of a flower and created a little card asking her to “Be my valentine.” She said it made her day, and I wouldn’t have thought of it if I hadn’t read your post.
So thanks from both of us.
February 19th, 2010 at 2:51 pm
this is so sweet! i’m a little late, but happy Valentine’s Day! I love it, too — the candy, the love, the pink hearts, the champagne, the celebration. It’s just a good time to be happy.