Day 5

Today’s Takeaway: Valentine’s Day needs a glow up!

My gift to my hubby for Vday. ❤️😉

I’ve never been big on Valentine’s Day. It always felt so fake and pressurized. People going out of there way one day of the year to validate their relationship, prove they’re okay alone, or send the grandest flower arrangement possible. Because nothing says love like a home that smells like a funeral parlor.

Most of the extravagant displays of affection you see on Valentine’s Day are devoid of the single thing the holiday is supposed to be based on…❤️.

Sure, it’s wonderful to shower your partner, family and friends in love on this day. By no means am I “bah-humbugging” V-day. It’s just, to an avid “connectionist” like me, it all feels very obligatory.

Flowers: ✔️
Fav candy: ✔️
Gift: ✔️
Reservation: ✔️

Okay recipe for the “perfect” Valentines Day complete! 🤢

Every relationship is different, every connection is special and unique. So why on the one day a year, where the singular purpose is to celebrate YOUR love, are we using the same recipe?! Answer: I don’t know. 😂

What I do know, is that people often mistake social norms for tradition.

- On Christmas you get a tree
- On Thanksgiving you eat turkey.
- On Valentine’s Day you give flowers & candy.

But in those examples, and so many others, the act of buying the tree, eating the turkey or sending the flowers, is not the tradition.

Every year you hang the god awful ornament your grandpa got you when you were 15. It’s ugly and big, but damn it! That tree wouldn’t be complete without it…That’s the tradition.

The day before thanksgiving you and your mom always get together to prepare the turkey. You have wine, laugh, catch up and make the most delicious turkey ever…That’s the tradition.

These social norms become just a foundation on which your unique traditions are built. So for me, Valentine’s Day has always missed the mark. I would like to see if we can change that for some people.

So today I’m turning the spotlight on you. (Yes, you! The person reading this right now and nodding in agreement. 😉)

In the comments I would love to hear about your unique Valentine’s Day tradition. It could be something you did, something someone did for you, or maybe your parents had an original tradition that you now carry on with your kids. If it’s different from candy and flowers, I want to hear it! Sharing your experiences is powerful. Maybe your story will inspire others to give their Valentine’s Day a glow up! ❤️