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| The Valentine McGrinch |
A few years back, I circulated an email among my friends an article I wrote on the very commercial celebration of Valentine's Day. I remember writing how greeting card companies commercialized the holiday to sell more cards and how flower shops collaborated on this to sell even more flowers. Even more so with restaurants, gift shops and the like. Of course, my friends who are "in love" literally condemned me for being such a Valentine Scrooge, Valentine McGrinch and a "Bitter Ocampo" (baklabulary for a bitter person). What they missed on my article is that I wanted to highlight the very essence of Valentine's day which is LOVE. I just don't agree with the idea that you only shower your loved one with lavishness on such an occasion. I do believe this holiday (and for all holidays for that matter) should be a reminder to us to live what this holiday stand for not just for one day but each day of the year. I would like to clarify that I do not discourage nor condemn those who celebrate the occasion to do so. It's a free country and they're free to do as they please, at least, within legal bounds. I just think that people should have some consistency in expressing how they feel. I have had my share of relationships to say that consistency is much needed in a relationship. You don't celebrate Valentine's day then be absent (or cold - harsh!) from/to your loved one the rest of the week. You should show your loved one you love them every day.
I make it a point to say "I love you" to my partner at least once a day because that is how I really feel and I wanted Mahal to know that despite us being both at work away from each other. It's also a reminder to myself of the reasons why I chose to be with Mahal and that makes it all the more easy to say. There is this teaching I learned from a seminar that if you want to make a habit out of something you should repeat it for at least 21 days. Well, I definitely would like to make loving Mahal not just a habit but a way of life. And so today is Valentine's day. Now that I'm in a budding relationship, I still feel that the occasion is "over-rated" and very much commercialized. I already sent Mahal my good morning and I love you message like I have done when we started going steady. I chose to be off from work. I'll probably hit the gym, get the car an oil change then stay at home and catch up on my NCIS and Arrow TV series. But who knows, I may be pragmatic but I do have a romantic side anyway so I might surprise Mahal at work with something. It's our first Valentine's day together after all.
Whatever one decides to do tonight, just do so out of the very reason why we have Valentine's day - LOVE. With that, I advise everyone today to spend wisely, love unconditionally, have sex safely (if you can't hold it!) and be responsible enough to face the consequences of your actions (or inactions) tonight. :-)
err, Happy Valentine's Day and
Cheers!!!
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