I want to start out by saying thank you to everyone who read my last blog Why Women March. It’s been viewed more times than I ever thought it would especially with all the negativity around it. Hopefully it gave those who read a better understanding.
I’ve thought a lot about if I should write this or not. Obviously, I decided to. A couple of years ago my husband and I announced that we don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day. We received some pretty negative responses. The only reasons I can think of people caring about what we do or don’t do is because it goes against the norm. Or maybe they thought us not celebrating it meant putting them down. That’s not the case at all. Just because we don’t believe in it doesn’t mean everyone else should drop everything and follow us. I mean, that just shows their insecurities or doubts. And I assure you that we aren’t that bitter couple that’s just against everything romantic. I still let my son celebrate it and participate in the exchanging of cards at school. I don’t want to take that experience away from him. When he’s older he can decide for himself if he wants to continue with it or not.
A few years back I started thinking about why Valentines day was so important to couples. I honestly couldn’t think of any reason it was important to me. Nothing significant ever happened on that day, no awesome memories. There was just this expectation of getting/giving flowers, chocolate or jewelry and forcing ourselves to be happier and more loving than any other day of the year. Honestly, it was more exhausting than it was worth it.
I think there’s something more special about surprising the person you love on a day that you don’t have to instead of a day that society says you should. For instance, just about every time I’m sick my husband will surprise me with something small while he’s out shopping for medicine. Or when I had dental work done and was in bed for 3 days he’d read to me until I fell asleep. Then there’s the times when he goes to buy groceries and will pick up my favorite snack (that I didn’t ask for) just to let me know he was thinking about me. Those are the days I’ll look back on and smile because those things came from his heart. They didn’t happen because of a holiday or some feeling he had that made him believe he HAD to do it.
I know Valentine’s Day has a special meaning to some couples and that’s awesome. Our anniversary is a special day for us as it is many. That’s the day that we both fully committed to one another and that’s a day that only him and I share. Sure other people have probably gotten married the same day we did but it’s still not a day that the whole world feels like they have to prove their love to someone.
I posted this article (12 Reasons Couples Don’t Need To Celebrate Valentine’s Day) last year after expressing my lack of interest in Valentine’s Day. I said it then and I’ll say it now that the only thing I don’t agree with this article about are the words strong couple. I think there are plenty of strong couples that celebrate Valentine’s Day. I wanted to share it mostly for people to have a better understanding of how I personally feel about the day and because some of it is just a bit funny.
Closing thoughts
Love isn’t a holiday and a lot of times it’s not even pretty. Love isn’t all rainbows, butterflies, sunshine and glitter. Love is hard. Love is making it through those hard times together. Love is being there for someone no matter what. Love is a commitment. Love is knowing that things won’t always be perfect and being completely okay with that. Love is fighting the entire world with someone that you know will never abandon you.
January 31, 2017 at 3:41 pm
I’m working on a piece about Valentine’s Day that I hope to post next week, but mine is the opposite: I enjoy the holiday. Not for the extravagant gift givings and gestures. I like it for the sole purpose to serve as a reminder that love should be celebrated and not forgotten. I 100% understand why you don’t observe the day though.
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January 31, 2017 at 3:45 pm
Let me know when you post it! I’d love to read it. I like seeing other peoples points of view on things like this. I already like where you’re going with the love not being forgotten!
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January 31, 2017 at 3:49 pm
I hope to post it on Monday, but will be travelling, so fingers crossed for decent signal. 🙂
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January 31, 2017 at 4:00 pm
I don’t celebrate Valentine’s day. In our part of the world (India), some undesirable elements took liberty to harass women.
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January 31, 2017 at 5:14 pm
Do you have any articles you could share about it? I’d like to read more on that. I didn’t know anything happened. I try to research things and stay up to date but I’m always missing something haha.
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January 31, 2017 at 5:29 pm
Only a month ago, that is on the New Year night, women were molested by ruffians in the name of revelry. In a couple of week’s time, that is going to repeat on Valentine’s Day as well. I can write not just an article, but a book on the hooliganism practised in the name of ‘celebrating’ a day that was originally meant to be a solemn occasion.
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January 31, 2017 at 5:43 pm
That’s horrible! Is there anything being done about this? Anything to try to prevent it from happening again?
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February 1, 2017 at 9:05 pm
We only react to adversities. We do not pro act. That’s why such untoward events happen at regular intervals.
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January 31, 2017 at 4:03 pm
Totally agree! I wonder if I can get my girlfriend to understand this as well..hmm..lol. Great post!
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January 31, 2017 at 5:15 pm
Haha! Maybe she will one day. Thank you!
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February 1, 2017 at 6:33 pm
Beautifully spoken.. written. I couldn’t agree with you more about V-day. (which is a day celebrating a very bloody massacre). I feel the same way about Christmas. I would rather spend the time enjoying food and family (maybe in that order too). Instead of the stress of finding the right presents and spending money you don’t have. Why not, coming across the bestest-ever present in May and give that saying “I was thinking of you!” Instead of the well its Christmas here is a gift card. But just my thought…
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February 1, 2017 at 9:12 pm
You have a really good point about Christmas! I think it does mean a lot more when gifts are random. The holidays are always stressful and adding shopping on there makes it worse.
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February 2, 2017 at 1:59 pm
The biggest stress for Christmas should be to make a turkey or ham! Or for me if I put real clothes on or stay in my PJs
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February 3, 2017 at 7:15 pm
Heyyy, I nominated you for the blogger recognition award. I hope you can check it out 🙂 -https://helloworldisanybodyhere.wordpress.com/2017/02/03/blogger-recognition-award/
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February 9, 2017 at 8:46 pm
I really loved the post)) And for your awesome thoughts I have nominated you for the blog-aholic award!!! Go check it out! https://summervinn.wordpress.com/2017/02/09/the-blog-aholic-award-2017/
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