Celebrating on Valentine's Day

It was a quick interview with my ecclesiastical leader.  Quite routine.  At the end of our quaint little discussion, he decides to say one more thing to me.  "One day, someone will discover you."  His positive thinking was always encouraging, and it was a nice thought that someone still had hope that one day I'd find that love.  It's been a while, and that still hasn't happened.

Valentine's gift from a widowed neighbor.
I was trying to figure out if it was chocolates
or a book.  Turned out to be a book.  That's ok.
We have a good supply of chocolate already.

It's not just a joke.  Valentine's Day can be extremely difficult for those of us who don't have, as my grandma would say, "that special someone," in our lives.  I have memories of passing a flower shop on my way home from work where there was a lot of activity happening as people were coming in and out, picking up their orders of red roses, and being fully aware that not one of those masses of flowers were intended for me.  I see on social media all of these friends and others I know posting about their time at a fancy restaurant or a beautiful night out, and there I am at home eating whatever I could scrounge up for the evening.  It's clearly understandable why some people in my same situation declare the holiday with an alternate name: Single's Awareness Day.  I don't balk at people who decide to use that, because I know where they are coming from; however, I don't like using it.

Valentine's Day, the holiday of love, how can it be celebrated by someone with no sweetheart?  There are many people out there who don't.  You have those of us who have never had one.  There are those who did, but for one reason or another found it necessary to end the relationship.  There are those who lost their sweethearts to death.  Are they denied the chance to celebrate?  I say no.  A few years ago, I thought about that alternative name that so many of us without anyone like to use, and it dawned on me that the term was not where I wanted to keep my focus.  Yes, the awareness that I have no one in my life is certainly there, but I didn't want to focus on what I didn't have.  I wanted to focus on what I did have.  So in my mind, Valentine's Day is more of an appreciation day for my loved ones: my friends, my family, and others who have been kind to me.  I may not get those flowers or have a fancy meal, but I get to spend the evening with those who love me and those I love.  It will be me and those I take care of tonight, and perhaps some other family members, and I made cherry cheesecake for the occasion.  What better way for celebration is there?

I don't get to miss out on the chocolate though.  We're all for that around here. 😁