My take on Valentine's Day ....

Hi everyone!!  In this weeks blah blah blog I'm offering my perspective on Valentine's Day!  Some will love it! Some will hate it! That's the beauty of our world, not everyone sees things the same...I see it as a chance to invoke change.....

There is so much hoopla that surrounds this man made 'holiday' on our man made calendar.  It's interesting how I see it being a romantic happy day for some, but how it causes many people stress and sadness, offering happiness to very few in comparison!!  This day that is named after St. Valentine, who knows how many eons ago, has become one of total commercialism where the masses are once again led to get out there and spend spend spend!  Red hearts and roses, trips and jewellery, and cards and candy is for the most part, what this day has really become about.....AND pressure.

Many couples feel pressure to live up to some society set standard on this holiday (and most holidays), and singles...well let's just say I see most are painfully reminded they are not part of a couple when many deep down long to be (the popularity of internet dating shows that)!!   Of course this does come with some exceptions as everything does!

Personally I have been single for over ten years and over time have become quite comfortable with myself and by myself so no part of me longs to have a partner on this day as it does for many; and there are those few couples who truly are in a deep, connected love relationship who effortlessly give to each other on this one day, and equally on many other days throughout the year!  For the most part though, I observe singles feeling singled out and pressured to find their 'valentine' or feeling sad being reminded they are single when they wish they weren't.  I also see many couples (especially the men) feeling pressured to 'buy something' special for their partner on that day even if they don't particularly feel like it!  Let's not forget about the people who are moving through loss of a partner by way of death or a breakup  and the pain this 'holiday' conjures up for them.

So who reaps the most benefit from this day??  I see it being the corporations whose angle is always, what can we 'sell them' and how can we make them buy it (and let's make sure it creates a bunch of extra trash while we're at it)!  This is equally true for the many other holidays we humans tend to 'buy into' with no questions asked.  We just do it.  Like robots.  It never ceases to amaze me, and hey it's not like I always saw things like this, I used to be right there along with everyone buying into it all too!

Whether I am single or part of a couple, I know I will never be one to buy into the commercialism of this holiday so others can profit from something as sacred as LOVE.  Neither would I care to put pressure on a partner to buy me something on a certain day of the year because it stated to on a calendar, and everyone else was doing it.  But that's just me.  

Love has nothing to do with a calendar date or 'stuff'.  If we truly want to see 'change' on this planet, we are going to have to start doing things differently and start asking ourselves why we're doing something when we're doing it.  Are we following the rest of the sheep or are we doing what feels RIGHT in our hearts.  Imagine if we were all willing to learn to love ourselves?  We'd then be able to love others just for the sake of loving.  Every day.  No pressure.  What if we showed love to our partners or family or neighbors on a Wednesday in November or a Friday in May just because we were feeling it in the moment?  Or if random acts of kindness was something we did all year long?!   Imagine too if we all found ways to show our love without supporting consumerism and lining the pockets of big daddy on a designated day of the year?  A picnic, a stay home movie date, a walk in the park, some kind words, a handmade card, sharing a meal, writing a poem or song, contacting someone randomly to say 'i love you'... there are some great ways to show our love to another that don't come with a price tag!  

Love comes from our hearts.  Buying someone candy, flowers or a ten carat diamond is an action that is not necessarily given from one's heart (although at times it is).  We humans are continuously being lured into the illusion of happiness by way of our wallets and the shiny things.  Wouldn't you rather have someone randomly express their love to you from their heart with something that has no price tag on it, than to be given an expensive gift out of their feeling of obligation?  Not sure about you but I know what my answer is.  I'm not trying to rain on anyone's parade here, I think the energy of true love that is expressed on this particular day is uplifting and raises the love vibe on the planet, however I see it causing an equal amount of stress and sadness.

So to all of you beautiful couples out there who celebrate your love on random days throughout the year and don't buy into the hoopla, I admire you.  For those who feel pressured to 'do something' for your partner because it says so on the calendar (or you're afraid you'll end up in the doghouse if you don't)...stop buying into it.  Make a new tradition with your honey that you invest the money you were going to spend on each other for Valentine's Day and make a donation to the SPCA or sponsor a hungry child.   Then on some random day when you're feelin' the love, buy flowers or surprise her somehow.

For all of you beautiful single people out there who wish you had a partner, don't be angry or sad tomorrow, raise your energy up by celebrating and honoring yourself today and everyday.  Make yourself a candle lit dinner and enjoy your own company, write yourself a love letter, learn to love and treat yourself all year long.  Afterall, the key to experiencing a happy and fulfilling partnership is by finding happiness and fulfillment without a partner!

Tomorrow I will make loving gestures to myself and others like I do every day, because from where I sit every day is LOVE Day.

"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart." ~ Helen Keller