Tomorrow is Valentine's Day. I never celebrated it before, maybe because I thought Valentines is for those couples who usually fall to the marketing strategies of flower shops, candy shops, hotels and the likes.
V-Day has become synanimous to "lovers" or "couples" which leaves single people somewhat alienated. Imagine a day wherein most of the women in relationships would be going around the metro, walking with flowers or chocolates or bears in one hand and bf/husband/lover in the other, dining out, having the time of their lives, making the most out of this one day of "love". And imagine you're single, and no date, and you have to avoid the traffic, the long ques on restaurants and shops just because someone declared that this day is for couples. Arrggghhh! But bitterness aside, I have to admit that Valentine's day has a deeper meaning, a nobler purpose.
Valentine's day is a day to celebrate LOVE in its purest form. This is the day to remember the people who touched your heart, who showed you kindness, who inspired you to become a better person. This is the day to celebrate that feeling of tenderness...like when I first saw you smile, or when I first heard your heartbeat or when I first kissed your cheek. This is the day to remember those lost "loves" that changed you but still is making you smile...the memories of those loves that changed and moved on.
This is the day to remember that LOVE is true ( people may lie and betray you but LOVE in its purest form will always be true)...no matter how you may be feeling right now. This is the day to rekindle that hope...that dream of a better tomorrow.
And as a gentleman, you have responsibilities to uphold, traditions to follow and rituals to do. Traditions are great because it connects you to your roots, it somehow gives you a sense of identity. Rituals make each day different from all the others. It creates memories and makes waiting for a certain day exciting and fun. So when you grow up, I expect you to...
1. Celebrate Life. Celebrate Love. There are only few occassions that you need to prepare for...so please, PREPARE. Make it special, make it memorable. Use your imagination, create something different each time, PLAN, do not procrastinate, LEAD, INITIATE...then, execute well.
2. Valentine's Day is a day to appreciate those people that you love. When you get married, its very important NOT to forget your wife. ( Coz who else will ever remember her but you?) You really dont have to spend so much, writing love letters is one of the cheapest yet one of the most romantic way to show your love. Love your wife the way she wanted to be loved. But most importantly, the best gift that you could ever give to anyone is your time, coz its like giving a part of your life. Use your time wisely, prioritize who gets to have it. If you're not willing to give time to the most important people in your life...then, maybe, they're not really important.
3. Valentines is not only for your intimate love, but also for those people who are important to you , grandparents, parents, cousins, friends who are single ( and maybe lonelier during this time) and all the other people who touched your life in a special way. Plan something for them. They will love you more for it.
4. Lastly, love yourself. Be grateful for all the love in your heart. Thank God for the light in your eyes, the joy in your heart, the peace in your life and the lightness of your soul. Appreciate it, coz not all people have it. And yes love...like you've never been hurt before, trust like you've never been deceived, hope like you've never been disappointed and live like this day is your last.
I love you.
~Mom
