I love the holidays. I don’t care how commercial they have become or how cheesy we make them out to be. Holidays are like natural serotonin reuptake inhibitors. People just feel good. So in honor of today’s holiday, which is one of my favorites, I must play tribute.

Valentine’s Day is, to some, a day when even though you know you love your partner 365 days a year, you get to celebrate it for one day like LOVE is it’s own holiday. Christians love Jesus all year but regard Christmas to celebrate his birth. Jew’s love the Torah all year, but celebrate that Torah on one holiday. Simchat Torah. So why do people choose to boycott this holiday when all it is is a good excuse to celebrate the one emotion we could never live without? There are two basic emotions that all other emotions stem from, fear and love. Would you even believe hate stems from love? So today we celebrate that one emotion that is so essential to all of us. No one should be depressed on Valentine’s Day. I know many people think it is depressing if they are single or without a committed significant other. Well this is bullshit. Everyone has somebody that loves him or her. There is always someone who wakes up in the morning and is happy that you were born, that you are in his or her lives, and that you exist exactly as you are. That is the beauty of love; no one is deprived of it.
When I was single, I woke up every Valentine’s Day morning to a new stuffed animal and a token (usually jewelry) from my parents. I know my parents always love me, but today they get to celebrate that special love only a parent can have for their child. That is a Valentine in of itself.
In regards to those “attached” people celebrating the holiday today. I know us women love pretty gifts, fresh flowers, and sparkling jewelry. However, these tokens of affection say more than what people think it really means. Anything from a beautiful diamond necklace to a simple bracelet; from a single flower that you got out of your garden to a vast array of roses say one thing….love. It says, “I Love You” by a symbol. It never really matters what that symbol is. Most of the time women just love that symbol has a simple reminder of her loved one. I have a bear that will always remind me of my parents love. It is the symbol that matters. When Wendy gave Peter Pan a thimble as a “kiss” that thimble would forever more remind her of the love Wendy felt for Peter Pan. It would always remind him of their “kiss.”
So I encourage everyone on this Valentine’s Day to let EVERYONE you love know you love them by just some simple token of affection. Send a stupid bear, a nicely written letter they can save, or some chocolate you know they like. Give them a hug to remember or their favorite flower. Tell them that you not only love them but also love them in your life. Tell them why you love them. Today is about giving and if we all give we all get.
For today I just wanted to let all of my friends, family, and loved ones know how much I love them. I am who I am today because each and every one of you has taught me something unique and special.

Sap session over…