Valentine’s Day has evolved so much over the years, and I’m so happy to see it.
When I was a kid, I remember making the foiled shoe boxes with decorative lace and hearts and taking it to school to get my Valentine’s cards from my classmates. I used to carefully write my own cards and give each person a highly individualized message so he or she would feel special on that day. Loved.
As I got older and the elementary school practice of foil boxes faded away, it suddenly was only about couples. And those middle and high school girls lucky enough to have a boyfriend would be the only ones to get flowers or cards or chocolates on this special day. For a long time, it felt like only certain girls were loved.
And then I got to college and it was more of the same until one year when a certain boy who liked me walked a dozen carnations all the way across campus during a snowstorm to deliver flowers to me on this very special day. I had never felt so loved. And his act always reminded me to try and give that love out to others who may need it so much.
Which is why I’m so glad to see that Valentine’s Day has evolved to a holiday about celebrating love in all its forms and with all kinds of people. The first thing I did this morning was wish my daughter, who I love so much, a Happy Valentine’s Day. I told her how much she is loved and by so many people. Because no matter whether she’s in a relationship or not, she should know, that love is for everyone.
And love truly is for anyone and everyone. There is so much love in this world, despite the headlines. If we could focus on the many types of love available to us, we could ground ourselves in the notion that romantic love does not define who we are.
For those lucky enough to have romantic love in your life, too, I hope you celebrate it with gusto. It’s rare, indeed, to find and it should be held close to our hearts on this day and always.
Happy Valentine’s Day to all the world’s souls, lost or otherwise. You are loved.
S.
Stephanie A. West 