Ignoring Valentine’s Day
Does your partner bring you roses, chocolate, plan a night out—or just ignore the whole thing and call Valentine’s Day a holiday invented by Hallmark?
You may think that things have moved on. That you can’t expect the same excitement now—whether you’re years into your relationship or decades—as you did at the start. Why would they do anything different on Valentine’s Day when you’re there, day in and day out?
Childhood Valentine’s
You might spend a little time missing those childhood days when we cut (or punched with our fingernails!) the bright colored Valentines (were they from Hallmark? ) to give to our friends. They were so much fun. We counted how many we had and who we would send to—and hugged close to our hearts one from that special someone who we’d wanted to notice us. It was thrilling when they did!
You probably anguished over what you’d write on their Valentine and watched to see it opened if you could, feeling your heart skip. The valentines sometimes came in books and sometimes in packs… and I noticed at my supermarket the other day that they still sell them—or something that is the modern equivalent. Whether your valentines went into your school mail box, bag, or the old ‘Valentine Shoebox” it was a special fun party day.
Any Day Can be Valentine’s
That was then and this is now. So if Valentine’s wasn’t great this year, do something about it. Were you waiting for someone else to make a move? Own it—and make any day Valentine’s Day. You buy the flowers—whether it’s for your partner or just for you.
The phrase we’ve been about this week—Just Do It!—has resonance beyond sports in real life. Don’t wait for others to make the first move. And be upset when they don’t—it might have nothing to do with you! They might have forgot, be too busy, stressed out, thinking you’re too busy even…
Reinventing Valentine’s Day means it can be any time Make it yours Instigate that Valentine’s feeling. My bet is that your partner will be happy you did… and perhaps a little skip in their heart that you took the time, thought, and love to check in on your relationship. Wine and chocolates, and flowers, anyone?
And if you want to just stay home and watch a good movie— If you haven’t seen Tommy Lee Jones and Meryl Streep in Hope Springs about a relationship that needs TLC and rejuvenation, it’s a great pic for a warm cozy make-any-day-Valentine’s-night on the couch!
