Happy Loving and Happy Valentine’s!

Valentine’s day is just around the corner and love has definitely been the topic of discussion since the past few weeks. While, I don’t really celebrate this day with expensive gifts or special outings with my loved one, I am not really anti Valentine’s Day either. Nothing wrong with keeping a day to celebrate love. We are supposed to love and profess it every day; adversaries might say. But then, if we are supposed to do it every day why not do it on this day as well instead of going all anti against it? So, here’s wishing everyone a Happy Valentine’s Day and here are five pointers on how we can actually celebrate this day without all the stress and hullabaloo around it.

  
1.       Keep it simple

Do simple little acts of love. A special day doesn’t have to be expensive or an extravagant affair. A few extra hugs when you wake up in the morning, a few love notes through the day, a home cooked meal with items your partner loves or that one task they have been asking you to take up but you’ve been procrastinating forever; I’m sure all of us have a few of them piled up.  

 

2.       Don’t expect anything in return

 

After you’ve done all that you want to for your partner, simply, don’t expect anything in return. After all, isn’t true love all about giving? Most of the problems in all of our relationships would come to an end, the day we stopped expecting and although it seems difficult to do that, if you truly loved someone, you’d know that it isn’t as hard either.

 

3.       Cherish the sacrifices you’ve made for each other

Valentine’s Day, if you actually go to see is celebrated to honour the life - sacrifice of St. Valentine of Rome during the second century. As legend goes, he was imprisoned for conducting marriage rites of Christian soldiers who were persecuted and forbidden from getting married, thus making him the patron saint for those in love. So, to commemorate his sacrifice, you could remind yourself of all the sacrifices your partner and you have made for each other. Prize them, for they are the acts that have kept you together and going.

 

4.       Don’t forget the others in your life

While Valentine’s Day is only associated with romantic love, there’s always enough love in our hearts to spread more. So, spread the love, spread it to your parents, siblings, children, friends, colleagues, students and everyone else in your life, whose presence you value. Wish them and remind them that you care for and treasure them. While, we should be expressing such feelings often, we hardly ever do. So, take the time out and convey it to them on this day. Last but not the least remind yourself that you love you and will always do!

 

5.       Continue loving and showing love on the 15^th, 16^th, 17^th and every day thereafter

Once the day is gone, don’t stop expressing love. Do it every single day and get yourself, your partner and everyone around you used to it. Love deeply and truly, every day, every hour and every minute for love doesn’t need just one day for expression, it needs to be cherished and nurtured every day!