Be Sure to Visit The Blog Hop Spot for more giveaways!
Oh Valentines Day. I have nothing against it, but let’s face it: to a single gal past a certain age you can either take offense to the whole holiday or treat it like Arbor Day and blow it off. I’ve gone back and forth between the two extremes, myself, but this year I find myself…I dunno, just feeling different about it. Maybe it’s because I’m more comfortable with myself and I’m not taking the bombardment of red and pink foil in every store aisle personally. Maybe I’ve finally gotten it through my head that the holiday isn’t an excuse for couples to laugh at those of us who, for whatever reason, are doing the solitary thing. Maybe I’ve just learned to like people more.
In all seriousness, this year I find myself appreciating those around me a lot more than before: family, friends, my friends’ kids…I don’t know if I’ve just grown up or if the past few years have broken and rebuilt me enough to realize that everyone is beautiful and everyone deserves good stuff in their lives – and their own awesomeness doesn’t mean that I can’t have awesomeness in my own way. A person’s personal life doesn’t have to be a competition.
Or as my married friends like to reinforce – You Have No Idea How Lucky You Are!!!
This ‘grass is always greener’ syndrome really seems to come out this time of year, and for once I’m at the point where I’m not resenting it. Let’s face it- we all think if we could just have that one thing we don’t already have, then our lives will be complete. It could be a significant other, children, a different job, fame and glory, power given by alien overlords to make you dictator over earth…anything. But everything is a give and take because we’re all human, not walking ideals. I will not deny it – with how crazy my schedule gets sometimes, it is a relief to not have to worry about another person…but I will also admit it can get a little lonely, and albeit what some people assume about me, I’m not knocking single life or relationships, because I’ve heard glorification and gripes from the other side of the fence, too.
So let’s stop pining away for what we think is better. You have no idea what turn your life is going to take or who’s going to come into your life, but if you’re always looking and never enjoying where you’re at, then you can’t welcome in the good stuff that’s trying to come into your life! So enjoy being able to eat food out of the cartons, doing whatever you want when you want, and spending all day in your pjs! Or if you rather, enjoy coming home and sharing your day with that person that makes you go all gooey inside (even if you want to smother them in their sleep occasionally).
I’m celebrating this year by trying to appreciate people. Friends, family, the amazing crowd that’s been pumping all my latest endeavors full of encouragements…I am surrounded by awesome people. Even the folks that I don’t even know but pass everyday in stores or on the road…you never know what they have to deal with, and even if I’m just sending a silent well-wish, well, at least that’s something I can do.
Last year I may have gone on a massive operation beautiful post-it fest through decoration and candy aisles, filling the commercial with positive messages. That may have to happen again…
So how do you feel about Valentines Day? Is it romantic, depressing, hopeful, a threat? How do you celebrate?
Come Selahway With Me... 
For me it’s mostly a day of positive thoughts, of friendship and love to all my family and friends. Not very much celebrating, hopefully a nice, calm dinner with my husband. But not so much decorating and other things.
It is hard no matter what because you set up expectations.
Melissa Keir
daringzoey@yahoo.com
I am not a fan of V-day, just due to the happenstance that it’s the anniversary of my grandmother’s death and that kind of ended my enjoyment of the concept. Still, it’s good to have a day to celebrate love in shapes and sizes- I just personally celebrate it the day or week after. If anybody gets valentines from me, they’re late.
Plus, one of my friends used to throw a killer Anti-Valentines party with tons of alcohol and ridiculous antics.Everyone would wear black and act emo and it was awesome. I miss those parties. Luckily my husband hates Valentines too so he’s happy to celebrate it on some other day with non-Valentines activities like a Zombie movie marathon or something. XD
I don’t like that the commercialism creates an obligation to celebrate. That pressure’s worse for single people.
V-day is not a big deal to me, my hubby is usually working.
I’m still hopelessly romantic, so I think Valentine Day is pretty romantic. I love it! 🙂
cayce006 at yahoo dot com
As a widow not so much into personal romance, I just get my romantic jollies reading about it.
The one time we went out for a Valentine’s Day dinner ,the lines were long and we had to wait . But we were standing behind two young men ,this is their conversation. “How come there are so many couples, is it a holiday or something ?”
” I think it’s St .Valentine’s day, Oh man, get away from me or people will think we are a couple.” My husband and I started to giggle.Deb P
r.d1@myfairpoint.net
We have been married forever, so we celebrate our love every day. V Day for us is pizza and ice cream sundae’s while we watch the movie, Cowboys and Aliens.
Cathy m
caity_mack at yahoo dot com
I too am a single girl so I will be curling up with a good romance book on the kindle, and maybe a little chocolate. Even though I am not in a relationship right now, I do take the opportunity to make sure that my family (especially my nieces & nephews) know how much I love them.
June
manning_j2004 at yahoo dot com
Hey, Valentine’s Day does not have to be all about lovers (and thank goodness because I sure don’t have one). Love isn’t all “romantic”. There’s the love between parent and child, sibling, and the best of friends. I don’t see why Valentine’s Day can’t be used to celebrate that kind of love too!
ashley.vanburen[at]gmail[dot]com
Happy Valentine’s Day!
We don’t do a lot for Valentine’s Day, except have a nice dinner. One of us prepares the other’s favorite meal at home and it’s my turn to cook this year. I’m making Jambalaya.
I love these hops. What a great way to discover new authors/blogs and visit with old friends.
Thanks for being part of the hop and for the chance to win such a fantastic prize!
reneebennett35(at)yahoo(dot)com
I’ve always loved Valentine’s day, however it hasn’t always loved me. I am hopeful that tomorrow will bring one of the better Valentine’s Days for me as I’m with a wonderful man now. 🙂
sanddanz at gmail dot com
Sorry, I’m really bad at poetry, when I had assignments like that in English class, boy did it take me forever to come up with something! I usually celebrate friendship day, since I don’t have a special someone, works for me…thanks for participating in the Hop!
depressing can i skip it ?
meandi09@yahoo.com
I don’t have a significant other so I don’t get into the hype of it. I usually just babysit so my daughter and son-in-law can go out for the evening. So it’s not such a big day for me.
Linda
seriousreader at live dot com