Here we are
again.
Another 14th
of February, so yet another Valentine’s Day.
Looking back
over Life of an Ordinary Aussie Woman, I’ve written about this day a few times.
You can read those posts if you like by clicking the links…
Each past
post was written while I was unmarried…yet I sit here today as a married woman,
so I’m forced to ponder if now writing on this topic would be like rubbing salt
into open wounds for some people who read my blog. I would never want to do that as I know how
it can be a challenging day at different times during our lives for many, many
different reasons.
I do however
love to use the blog as an encouragement for others and therefore I have once
again decided to write down my thoughts on such a day as this…
I am sitting
here thinking, “How much is too much?”
I know of
people who refuse to celebrate Valentine’s Day remarking it’s a money making
day for Hallmark…I sit here also as an Aussie and think of my friends who
remark, “It’s an American tradition and we’re not America!” I think of people
who resent the day for how it makes them feel and I think of the people who
declare, “I show love every day and don’t need a date on the calendar!” while
pondering, how much is too much?
So I try to
think objectively as 1. An Aussie, 2.Someone who knows what it’s like to be
single and grieve loss on this day 3.As someone who also dislikes commercialism
tainting special times (yes, especially Christmas!) and 4.As someone who also
tries to show love EVERYDAY to others.
My thoughts
quickly travel to other ‘special days’ such as Christmas and Easter, family
holidays and birthdays. So I wonder do we really need to purposefully stop each
year to reflect upon Jesus’ birth, death and resurrection? Do we really need to
stop and purposefully spend quality time as a family each year, or eat birthday
cake every time it’s someone’s birthday (that’s a lot of cake each year)? Do we
really need a day to celebrate romantic love?
I am left
with my own answer which is this.
No, we don’t need to do any of these things
above, in fact sometimes our budget doesn’t allow it. Everyone is entitled to
their own choice to keep whatever traditions they choose. However we cannot
ignore that we do keep our traditions, as being purposeful and keeping cultural
traditions is important to HELP show others we love them. Plus many things in life which are great fun and show we care, can be free or inexpensive when we take a little time and think creatively.
While
Valentine’s Day has previously been about romantic love, here in Australia over
the past decade or more, I’ve noticed a change. It seems Valentine’s Day has
become more of a day for anyone to reach out to those they care about and show
some love. I know of young people who use it a chance to show appreciation and
friendship love to others. I know of single people who use it as a day to send
messages of love and support to their other single friends. And I know of some
people who still do extravagant romantic deeds on this day (like my husband who
proposed this exact day last year)…
And again I
ponder how much is too much?
I believe when it
comes to love and support I say there’s no such thing as too much…
Yes, we can
show love every day, (indeed we should)…Just as we can think of Jesus’
sacrifice and triumph every day and be thankful (indeed we should)…Yet it is
good to take a moment, to stop and be purposeful in our actions…and this is how
I personally feel about Valentine’s Day.
So, in
short, reach out and tell someone you care this Valentine’s Day…They may just
really need it.
Love Mel xx
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