Redeeming Valentine’s Day

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Valentine’s Day is one of my favorite holidays. I love the colors and I love that there is absolutely no pressure to have all the family over for a big meal. And even if we don’t always get to go on a date, it’s a nice excuse to hang out with my best friend.

I can remember a time though when I didn’t love Valentine’s Day. The holiday made me painfully aware that all my friends were dating or being asked out and I wasn’t.

I was in high school and the senior class sold roses and cookies to the students who would buy them for their significant other or crush. They would interrupt class to pass them out and everyone would anxiously await to see if anyone bought something for them. Sometimes, my mom or my brother would send a rose my way but I never received one from a boy who I wasn’t related to. This continued year after year, and if it hadn’t been for a sweet friend, I could have really grown to hate Valentiredeeming valentine's dayne’s Day.

One year when neither of us had any dates or plans on Valentine’s Day, my friend and I decided to treat ourselves to Wing Stop (there was something about their fries). Somehow it became a tradition. Every year, until we both met our now husbands, we would go to Wing Stop for Valentine’s Day. That simple little tradition saved Valentine’s Day for me. It became something I looked forward to instead of something I dreaded. Now I have sweet memories of those years before marriage and babies.

What are your feelings about Valentine’s Day this year? Has the day already become a letdown? Did your husband fail to make dinner reservations or forget about the holiday all together? Or maybe you’re flying solo this year because of a loss or divorce?

Whatever your situation friend, it’s not too late to turn things around. Valentine’s Day can still be redeemed.

Valentine’s Day is all about love, typically the touchy feely kissy kind of love. But who says it can’t be about family or neighborly love? If you’re feeling the holiday blues, you can bet that others are too. So call up a friend you haven’t talked to in awhile, let them know you appreciate them. Send your mom a love note or make a special lunch for your kids. Continue building a culture of love in your home even if things haven’t gone the way you wanted. You could be the redeeming factor to someone else’s Valentine’s Day.