Happy Valentine’s Day — is that an oxymoron? I don’t know much about the origins of St. Valentine’s Day but it has never been my favorite holiday, not even in the top 10.
I grew up getting stressed out over this Hallmark holiday. What little valentines would I choose to give each classmate? Would someone feel slighted? Would a little boy get the wrong idea? In junior high, we could buy boxes of Sweetheart Candy for $.35 and have them delivered to anyone in our school. Oh, what drama! What’s funny is that the only one I specifically remember receiving was a box from just an acquaintance, my brother’s friend’s little brother; I think he was just being nice and, for junior high, that was unusual.
Really, love is something to be celebrated. Now that love is not the “total agony” that it used to be when I was young, I have to admit I have succumbed to the romance and optimism of the holiday. I give my husband a card and mail a card to a friend or two. Now a valentine has become an excuse to remind people that I care about them.
Perhaps Valentine’s Day is not so bad. It’s not always the the amalgamation of trepidation and blind hope. It can be about friendship and connection. And chocolate. It should always be about chocolate.