I love thee, I love but thee
With a love that shall not die
Till the sun grows cold
And the stars grow old
-William Shakespeare
It is February and love is in the air! Couples across the world are getting ready to paint the town red. Enjoying candle lit dinners and gazing across each other over their fancy red heart shaped fondants.
Valentine's day is here, a day of celebration of love, and an opportunity for us to consciously connect with each other to show our feelings for one another. It is a day of sharing and giving. Its meaning is supposed to be much deeper than the highly commercialized circus it has become, and much more profound than merely sending that special someone a dozen red long stemmed roses.
The day is designed to bring happiness and warmth and love to your significant other and let them know that you care. And yet many couples and singles alike experience mixed feelings and emotions on this day.
Couples who love each other do not need any artificial and material signs to prove their feelings for each other. And they certainly do not need to prove their love on just this one day. Love is an everyday feeling and needs no reason for celebration. These couples enjoy each other and treasure their moments together in all ways always.
At the same token the day can bring sadness and feelings of loneliness to some. Those who have lost, or are separated from loved ones. Some are estranged from their families, while others may be couples in relationships that have become meaningless.
To those couples who have lost their spark: Valentine's Day is an occasion to forgive each other and try to make things right. Remember the days when you were in love and passionate for each other? Try to rekindle that fire and make an effort to change yourselves. Apologize if you must, for the support and help not given and for words not spoken or heard. And mean it.
A card or a dozen red roses can be a gesture made to say you are sorry and that you would like to reignite the passion. Kill the routine, go out and do something out of the daily norm, such as going to a nice restaurant, walking along the beach. Go to the movies, write a love letter to each other and just keep it positive and be sincere about it. Be grateful for each other's presence in your lives and stop taking each other for granted.
For many singles out there it may seem like a cruel joke: Valentine's Day is here (again!). Being single and unattached you do your best to ignore all the commotion and put on your best smiling face to assure everyone that you are OK. Deep inside you may be a little sad and lonely wondering when you will meet your own Valentine.
Take heart. Valentine's Day is all about relationships, but who says it has to be limited to only the romantic ones? Look at this day with a positive attitude. You own your life. You can do whatever you want, whenever you want! All decisions are all yours. Have fun.
There are so many ways to celebrate being single this Valentine's Day.
•Be your own Valentine. The day is all about love, and what better time to reinforce that love for yourself? Treat yourself with something you've been dreaming about. You could go on a mini retreat, a spa, pamper yourself. Loving yourself is the best present you can give yourself on Valentine's Day and every day.
•Go to a singles event near you. Enjoy your day with other awesomely single girlfriends. Nothing beats a girls' night out when you can binge on your favorite food and drinks, laugh at jokes that men could never understand!
•Host a V-day celebration for you and your single friends. Have a pajama party with great food and drinks, perhaps with your favorite music blaring. Have a movie marathon!
•Go to a karaoke bar with your girlfriends. Singing your heart out can be gratifying and hilariously fun. Belt out those songs with no qualms whatsoever! Nobody's going to judge you.
•Go to a beer or wine tasting spree with your girlfriends. Let loose and laugh and have some fun.
•Include your family and loved ones in your celebrations. What better time to show them that you love and care for them than on Valentine's Day?
Let us all use the occasion of Valentine's Day to be more loving and kind to one another, to manifest peace and harmony in all relationships, and carry this love throughout the year and not wait until next Valentine's Day comes around.
No matter what kind of love you are experiencing today: love for yourself, love for your parents, siblings or your children, love for your significant other, love for others, love for the planet, all love is magical and is to be treasured every single day.
Make every day a Valentine's Day!
This is love:
To fly toward a secret sky
To cause a hundred veils to fall each moment
First to let go of life
Finally, to take a step without feet.
-Rumi
© Rani St. Pucchi, 2016
For more information on Rani St. Pucchi visit www.ranistpucchi.com