Valentine's Day Obligations

Call me a cynic, but I truly believe that most people resent Valentine's Day.  For single people, the day presents a month long reminder that they are alone and have not found anyone.  And this is not a fun feeling, I've been there...we all have and can attest to that fact.  But the holiday is almost worse for those people that are no longer single.  These people cannot ignore the holiday like the single world can.  No, these people are obligated to acknowledge it.  I suppose they could choose to ignore it, but I've done that too and the outcome was just short of disastrous.  A day that was developed to bring people closer together has become a great spectacle.  It is a day where children are forced to give cards and presents to classmates (many that they do not even like).  A day where some of these same young hearts are broken as they realize that their crush does not even realize they exist--we all have one of these stories.  A day where millions of dollars are foolishly spent on flowers, chocolate, cards, jewelry, stuffed toys, and romantic dinners.  A day that in my opinion "has lost that loving feeling" and been replaced with obligation. 

She must be single--you think to yourself.  Surely only a single person could feel so strongly against a holiday that is devoted to love.  Wrong.  I am happily married.  Then something must have happened to her to make her hate this holiday--you deduce.  Wrong again.  Thanks to my grandfather, I have never had a Valentine's Day where I have not received a Valentine.  He believes that every woman should feel loved on this day and every day, and makes a point to send a Valentine out to every women in his life.  I really do not hate the holiday in itself.  In fact, in my family the holiday has extra special meaning as it is the day that my parents got married 35 years ago.  My issue is that people go crazy on this single day because of obligation but then ignore the other 364 days.  This is not how I want to be loved, nor is it how I want to teach my children to love or express emotions. 

I am thankful that my husband has similar views on this (or at least has accepted my views).  Sure he still spends money on Valentine's Day (I think that obligation is much too ingrained in his head to not do it) and every year I give him a hard time about it and he smiles.  But this year, this year was different.  On Valentine's Day this year, my husband made his predicable purchase and came home.  But something happened this year that was completely unexpected and my heart ran over with love and emotion.  He walked into the room holding a single flower and kissed me.  I was about to begin giving him a hard time when he turned around and handed that flower to our 1 year old baby girl.           
    

As her face lit up and the flower was brought up to her little nose, my heart runneth over.  This year...well this year...I'm thankful for that obligation.  Sure I still want people to bring that enthusiasm to the other 364 days of the year.  But this year, maybe for the first time...my heart was truly filled with the spirit of Valentine's Day and that cynicism was put to the side (at least for a moment).