Be My Valentine
We do not celebrate Valentine’s Day, but it’s not like we hate love. It’s sort of like Arbor Day — we don’t celebrate Arbor Day, either, but it’s not like we hate trees. (Arbor Day is for celebrating trees, right?) We don’t do anything to mark the day, though I can’t really tell you why. It isn’t a protest. It isn’t a putting our foot down. It just isn’t, and we just don’t.
But if Josh decided he felt like giving me a back rub tonight, I wouldn’t say no.
*******
I really do like an idea I’ve seen echoed around the Internet this week about declaring it a day of self love. Taking a half hour to do something you really enjoy, or buying yourself a particularly good piece of chocolate. THAT is something within your control. You can choose to take a small amount of time for yourself. It can be five minutes. It can be thirty seconds of deep breaths. But it’s yours, and no one can stop it from happening.
I am a big fan of things within my control these days.
So I am going to have a piece of chocolate. I am going to read a chapter in my book. And I am probably going to end up with a new game from the app store. Because damn it, I’m worth it.
Happy Valentine’s Day. What are you going to do to show yourself a little love?
9 comments
Same here. Mr Turtle and I only celebrated Valentine’s Day when we were dating, and that was out of a feeling partly of “finally we aren’t left out of this silly holiday” and partly “don’t want to send any mixed signals by ignoring it.” After we were married though, we mutually ceased to care. Sometimes we do funny cards and chocolates. Now Mr Turtle did arrange an unusual surprise date this past weekend, which was really fun….so who knows, maybe a new tradition….
We celebrated last night by getting an email from daycare after we’d gotten home saying, “oh hey, we forgot to tell you all to bring in 25 valentines for the party tomorrow– here’s instructions on that”. (Celebrated by DH making a quick trip to Walmart since it’s the closest store and then frantically having DC2 fill them out before bedtime.) (The lack of advance notice is odd since we had already gotten craisins as our assigned treat for the party.)
We celebrate as a family, mostly because it’s fun with little kids. My husband is out of town for work this week so we celebrated Sunday by making our own pizzas and baking cupcakes. The girls and my husband assembled a “Valentines” lego set. It was fun but mostly because I felt like it was just a really awesome family night. I did bake muffins and put out some new stickers with valentine-y napkins this morning. To me, this is the best Valentines Day has ever been – a little bit of extra loving on my young kids. I know this won’t last so I’m soaking it up. And then I will go back to not celebrating a holiday that has always felt forced to me.
Same here. We do whatever needs to be done for the kids’ school events and I actually did pick up some heart-shaped chocolate for the boys when I went for last minute valentine’s card shopping last night (because I forgot it was today!) but we don’t really do anything as a couple just…because we don’t. No major statement or protest, just not something we care to spend energy on, I guess.
I love this idea too, Mel! I plan to buy a bag of Lint Sea Salt and Milk Chocolate Truffles (haven’t had any in ages) when I’m out doing errands in a bit, then later this afternoon, I’ll hide away in my room, listen to music and edit some photos whilst nibbling on my treats.
We don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day in a big way. The little kids get cards and candy. Some years I put out decorations, because I like decorations. Twenty years ago, my husband and I started a tradition of buying each other candy the day AFTER, when it is all on 50% off sale. I love candy!
We make cards for each other, but that’s usually about it. Steve bought truffles because we happened to be in a market that sold them, but I intend to share. 😉 While I don’t like the commercial holiday, I don’t mind the reminder to tell people in my life that I love them … sometimes I get caught up and forget.
Husband is making dinner (that’s amore) and I’m going to try making these in the InstaPot http://recipesforinstantpot.com/133-2/.
We generally just exchange cards on V-Day… flowers are way too expensive today, and restaurants too crowded. But we went to the mall & I indulged myself at the bookstore, Victoria’s Secret 😉 and the Gap (cozy new sweatshirt in a pretty colour, on sale). And (as Jill noted above), I plan to look for some discounted chocolate treats tomorrow! 😉