A Day For Romance

Happy Valentine's Day, readers!

Since today is one of two days marked on the calendar specified for a little love, I thought I would share a little perspective about the sappy, chocolate-covered holiday.

First, I would like to note that I have a boyfriend of almost a year and a half, hence I am not one of those "I hate Valentine's Day because it was created by card and chocolate companies" cynics. I simply have a larger idea of romance.

Secondly, I would like to also provide a Shakespearean sonnet that goes with my theory on a broader scale. 

SONNET 116

Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O no! it is an ever-fixed mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wandering bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come:
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
   If this be error and upon me proved,
   I never writ, nor no man ever loved.

 

 
My ideas about Valentine's day aren't particularly customary, but I feel about like Shakespeare did about what true love is: "If this be error upon me proved/I never writ, nor no man ever loved." 

Why does there need to be a holiday to remind people to be romantic and remind loved one that they are loved? Why is romance determined by how much money we spend on diamonds, chocolate, and flowers? Why do we have to depend on card companies to say our sentimental words for us?

As a female, yes, I get jealous of the girl who gets flowers at school from her boyfriend, however I'm a little more sentimental than some flowers that will wilt in about twelve hours and chocolate that will be gone in an hour. Most days should be a little romantic. If you really love someone, you find ways to be affectionate on a regular basis. That is what romance is. The truth is that too many women have romantic ideas about romance. Romance is in the little things that remind a person that you love them: holding their hand, writing a note, a kiss on the forehead, telling her she's beautiful, telling him he's handsome, making dinner. 

If there has to be a day, why do we depend on commercial things to express our love for us? No one can express your love but you. Flowers mean more on a normal day than they do on Valentine's Day. Chocolate is the condolence for single girls who sit home and cry because, as Hunter Hayes sings, "everybody's got somebody but me." Why don't we hand-make cards with our own words and sentiments written inside instead of mass-produced lines in a Hallmark card? Why don't we bake or make dinner for our loved ones instead of buying them chocolates in a box or taking them out? At least then we can put a little love into the food. Why don't we give practical things that every time our other uses it, he or she will think of us? Make a video, drawing, painting, scrapbook, album, photo-frames or collage of pictures of you together. Don't just say you love them, show them or write it so they have it forever. 

Where is the romance in buying love? I'm not a cynic. I'm probably the biggest believer in love there is. Next Valentine's Day, I suggest something sentimental and a hand-written letter. Sentimental doesn't mean not bought. It just means not commercialized. Don't let Valentine's Day be about the card, chocolate and flower companies; let it be about the love.