Archive for the ‘Valentine’s Day’ Category
Okay, so…Valentine’s Day
Some people complain about V Day. They think it’s just more gifts to buy. Too many holidays in a row with Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s. But here’s the thing. I don’t think we celebrate enough.
Years and years ago, I went to the counter to pay for a bunch of cards for one of the holidays. Cards for aunts, uncles, grandparents, parents, kids, etc. The woman who waited on me said that people often complained about the cost of the cards but she wished that she had someone to send them to. She said the cost didn’t matter. She said she didn’t have anyone left. No one to buy cards for. She told me I was lucky. She was right…I was.
Her words stayed with me. She made me realize how fortunate I was to have so many people in my life. I always bought them things, sent cards, got their favorite candy, and told them I loved them, but I never thought about them being gone. I just took it for granted that they would always be there. Well, they are gone now. All of them. I no longer have to buy special cards for fifteen people.
Once the woman behind the counter made me realize that the people in my life would not be there forever, I was happy that I never stopped reminding them of how often I thought of them, how important they were to me.
I think celebrating, gift giving (no matter how small), should be something wonderful, not something to fret over and grumble about. Add bows, balloons, brownies and whatever people love, and let others know how important they are to you. A card, purchased, or handmade, simply tells some one that you are thinking about them…that they matter.
I was young, and you don’t really think about people dying, when you’re so full of life, but I’m so happy she made me see how lucky I was. I’m grateful to her and I’m so happy that I was able to give little bits of this and that to the people around me, so they knew that I cared.
So celebrate little things and big things. It matters and I’ve learned never to put things off, because you might not get another chance to send that card, or tell someone you love them. Now is all we ever have. And as much as we’d like to believe that it’s only the aged that leave us, it’s not true. Celebrations are important, no matter how wee.
Valentine’s Day may be commercial (what isn’t), but so what…who cares? It’s just one more day to remember someone. One more day to break away from our normal routine and do something different for those around you. A phone call, a real card, instead of a text message…flowers sent.
If you have people to remember, consider yourself fortunate. It’s not a chore to buy a card, or a candy bar, it’s a gift to have those people around you for as long as you can. Don’t forget that. I never did.
The woman behind the counter opened my eyes. I will be forever grateful to her.
Rethinking Life 
Written
on February 14, 2022