In defense of Valentines Day

It started about a month ago. I was on the bus home from dinner with friends when I overheard the girl sitting in front of me proclaim her utter disdain for this wretched holiday. Fast forward to this week and my facebook newsfeed is littered with articles on how men are the worst, Valentines day is the worst, and love is the absolute WORST. Either that or an article articulating why pizza makes the ideal valentine this year. (Hey, I don’t disagree!) I would feel safe in saying that Valentines Day is the most hated holiday. Not only that but it has become cool to hate on Valentines Day. Today is the day where girls bond over their mutual hatred of everyone with a significant other and make self-deprecating jokes about how nobody loves them. (Not hating on self-deprecating jokes here, they are some of my favorite kinds of jokes.)



In case you were wondering what my thoughts about Valentines day are,  I will refer you to the #12 bullet point on my about me page.

Actually, I’ll save you the time. Here it is:

I love love. Bob Goff said it best "It will be our love, not our opinions which will be the greatest contribution to the world.".


If you've already had too much chocolate and your powers of deduction aren’t working properly today, I’ll make it very simple for you: I love Valentines Day. It happens to be one of my favorite holidays. However, what I don’t like is what Valentines Day has become. Somehow this day has veered so far off of course from what it was meant to be and turned into something so commercialized. It shouldn’t be about the stuff, or how much you got, or what huge grand gesture was done for you. And if you are single, like myself  it shouldn’t be about moping around or hating on everyone in a relationship. Ladies, if we need a refresher on envy on Valentines Day you can go back and read my “Loving other women” article HERE. Its hard not to compare when your Instagram feed is nothing but flowers, chocolate, and cute pictures of couples kissing though, I know.



What I really love is Valentines Day stripped down to its very core idea: to give love. While every day provides us with a excellent time to give love, today you are meant to love just a little harder. How can anyone hate that?

Easy. You can hate it when you are focused on the love you are GETTING rather than being focused on the love you are GIVING.

This holds true whether you are in a relationship or not. Again, its all about changing your perspective and outlook and suddenly you will see the day in whole new light. Lets make today about working extra hard to reach out to those around us and making them feel so loved and special. Lets focus on giving love. There is really so much joy in making others feel special- I promise its more fulfilling than any gift you could receive today.

There are many ways to do this but I have come up with a little list to get you started!




Ideas for unattached people: (Like how I used unattached instead of single?)

•     Have a galentines day party (or sleepover because you are never too old for a sleepover)

•     Write letters to those you love and mail them

Yes, my parents are my Valentines this year. So what? :)

•     Volunteer somewhere fun with a group of friends (like a retirement home valentines day party)

• Plan a special Valentines Day surprise for a friend

• Host a girls night wine tasting complete with cheese and chocolate

• Coordinate with a friends out of town significant other to help surprise them

Ideas for people in a relationship:

• Bake Valentines Day treats together and deliver them to your friends

• Write your significant other a detailed love letter (To me, this is the best gift)

• Purchase and go through the book “All about us” together.

• Create a yearly tradition such as going on a hike just you two or building a blanket fort

• Make a relationship bucket list for the year

• Put together a scavenger hunt for your significant other with meaningful locations

• Volunteer together

• Create a keepsake box for your significant other where they can keep little reminders from your relationship such as ticket stubs, notes, pictures, etc.

• Make breakfast for your significant other (or any other meal but who are we kidding, breakfast is the best meal of the day) .

Two years ago I was very much in love and naturally that translated into a myriad of heart-shaped breakfast foods on Valentines morning. Note to future self: maybe only stick with one heart-shaped item next time. This might be a little bit overkill.

"Let all that you do be done in love." - 1 Corinthians 16:14

Religious or not, this verse has the ability to be so powerful in changing the way you go about your life. Lets all try and apply it to our actions not only today but every day.


Now get out there and make someone's Valentines Day great!


P.S.- Happy Valentines Day to you! May your day be filled with more love and candy than you know what to do with!