It’s Valentine’s Day!\u00a0 A day of forced love and celebration.\u00a0 Kidding.\u00a0 Kinda.\u00a0 It’s become this day that tells us with brilliant marketing campaigns what it means to feel loved.\u00a0 We need chocolates and jewelry, and flowers and “stuff”.\u00a0 Did you know that the average person spends $175 on Valentine’s Day? Yikes. Chocolate is number one.\u00a0 Followed by flowers.\u00a0 \u00a0And then jewelry.\u00a0 \u00a0That’s a LOT of money for a made up day. That’s some expensive chocolate.\u00a0 (smile)<\/p>\n
I LOVE love.\u00a0 I do.\u00a0 And I love flowers and chocolates and cheesy Valentine’s Day gifts.\u00a0 I love the IDEA of Valentine’s Day.\u00a0 I don’t love the pressure it brings.\u00a0 My MIND knows it’s a cheesy made up holiday, but my heart still wants cheesy. The only problem is my husband HATES it.\u00a0 Because it’s a made up, commercialized day and he’s not wrong.\u00a0 One year he made a comment about not getting a groundhog on Groundhog’s Day, and my Valentine’s bouquet that year came with a card that said “Now where’s my groundhog?” with a smiley face.\u00a0 BEST gift ever.\u00a0 Made me laugh so much.<\/p>\n
How do you celebrate Valentine’s Day?\u00a0 Do you keep it simple?\u00a0 Do you go all out?\u00a0 Do you ignore it altogether?<\/p>\n
Valentine’s Day is\u00a0a day to celebrate all those people in your life that you love.\u00a0 \u00a0Your kids, your friends, your co-workers, your furry friends and family members.\u00a0 \u00a0It’s a day to love yourself and remind yourself how amazing you are.\u00a0 Treat yourself to some chocolates and flowers.\u00a0 Do something just for you.\u00a0 It’s an incredible feeling.<\/p>\n
My daughter and I have plans tonight to watch cheesy movies, bake cookies and just spend time together which I look forward to.<\/p>\n
If I’ve learned anything over the years is not to compare.\u00a0 Do what makes YOU happy.\u00a0 For yourself, for you as a couple.\u00a0 Don’t get caught up in the social media feeds, or the pressure to do it all.\u00a0\u00a0It can get so frustrating competing with what the world tells you to do to celebrate.\u00a0\u00a0“Comparison is the thief of joy”.\u00a0 I saw that somewhere.\u00a0 And remembering that helps me everyday.<\/p>\n
If you don’t love Valentine’s Day – ignore it.\u00a0 If you do, celebrate it.\u00a0 But do it for YOU and not because the world told you too.<\/p>\n
Wishing you a very happy Valentine’s Day.<\/p>\n
Carrie<\/p>\n