Why Valentine's Day is Actually an Awesome Holiday

I have heard a ridiculous number of people this year saying that they hate Valentine's Day or that they think it's a dumb holiday. And they're not all single. Without fail their reasoning is that you should show your love every day, not just once a year. I'm surprised at how bugged I am by that philosophy. Maybe it's because back in our courting days a certain someone who I married anyway felt the same way. Luckily he's come around.

I don't know the history behind Valentine's Day, nor do I care to look it up and put it here. I just know that Valentine's day is a chance to make a big deal out of love. I don't hear one person saying "Oh Thanksgiving is so lame - you should be thankful every day, not just once a year" and passing on the turkey and pumpkin pie. Nor do I hear anyone being so annoyed by the fact that we only celebrate Christ's birth one day a year that they refuse to open their presents. Nobody minds that they get a random fresh start and a party at New Year's. Or that the 4th of July is a single day to celebrate freedom, country, and those who have paid such a price to bring it to us. So why hate on Valentine's Day?

Rather than walking around frowning all day and feeling like everyone hates you today, I recommend you do the following:

1. Look outside yourself - I for one think that it's about expressing love, not expecting to get 8 dozen roses and a box of chocolates delivered to your door. What do you even do with those elephant-sized teddy bears anyway? Pick somebody that you love, or even just appreciate, to be your Valentine. You're allowed to pick parents, pets, policemen, or even potted plants, if this is really a stretch for you. You can even choose yourself!

2. Show it already! Find a way to express that you love them or care about how their day goes, or really appreciate who they are or what they do for you. Stop by and bring them dessert tonight. Tie a jingle bell to a string and play with your cat. Give a hug. Paint your toenails. It doesn't have to be elaborate or expensive, just sincere.

3. Think of how great it's going to make someone feel. I guarantee that you'll love it. To illustrate, here are my three favorite Valentine's Day memories of someone completely making my day. The ideas are fun, inexpensive, and not copyrighted.

When Nate and I were dating we were in college at BYU. It was Valentine's Day and I had a wind symphony rehearsal that afternoon. I grabbed my trumpet case from the locker and went in to get ready and warm up. I unzipped the case, opened it up, and conversation hearts spilled everywhere! Nate had gotten a friend of mine to hang onto my trumpet and completely filled my case with hearts (which I think are delicious - especially the oranges and greens). Although it was rather embarrassing to have all eyes on me as the hearts poured all over the hard floor, I felt loved.

As a newlywed I was doing my student teaching on Valentine's Day. Nate had kindly offered to make my lunch - what a sweet valentine. I opened it around noon to find no sandwich, but instead a note in a sandwich bag telling me to go to the car. So, blushing, I went to the parking lot. Our green Honda Civic was covered in different colored paper hearts, and inside I found a hot dog from J-Dogs (all you BYU people will understand why that is a sign of serious devotion). Nate had also left our laptop on the passenger seat with a video that he'd made at like 4:00 that morning telling me briefly why he loved me.

The last one might be my very earliest memory of life. I must've been three or so, and my sweet mom showed her love for my siblings and I by hiding foil-covered chocolate hearts in sneaky places so we'd find them all day. I remember how excited I was to find one in my shoe as I got ready that morning.

All three of those examples were relatively easy to do and inexpensive and totally made my life. I'll never forget any of them. And this year, although I'm not nearly so creative, I'm so excited to do just one or two special things to show a few people that I love them too.