With Valentine’s Day approaching, I wanted to talk about love especially because I am always outnumbered when it comes to my love for Valentine’s Day. It has been my favorite holiday for as long I can remember. It has nothing to do with the fun Valentine’s we received as children, the flowers, or the chocolates (or even an edible arrangement if you’re lucky!) It has always had to do with the fact that it was a special day to tell the people you love that you love them. Whenever I say that, I get a lot of backlash, such as “shouldn’t you tell people that ‘stuff’ every day” or “you don’t need gifts to say those things,” all of which are true. I completely acknowledge that we should be telling the people we love that we love them every day not matter what, but sometimes life gets away from you and things get tough and telling/showing people you love them can take the backburner. Valentine’s Day for me is a reminder to put aside whatever is going on in life, a project that has been bugging you for a month, errands you know you need to catch up on, etc., and spend the day telling those special people how much you care about them and even showing them.
My parents were a constant reminder of love in my life. I know that their marriage isn’t perfect (sorry guys, love you!), but they have shown me what real love is about. They set an example for me that you can show love in small ways, by cooking dinner or doing the dishes, and in big ways, like planning incredible birthday bashes for each other. My parents didn’t only show love with each other but they showered us with so much love over the years as well. From every surprise birthday party (yes, there have been multiple) to every moment they were just there for me when all I needed was a shoulder to cry on, my parents showed that love comes in so many different forms. This also reigns true with their friends. I know that over the years, and three kids later, it hasn’t been easy for them to be with their friends all the time but no matter what my parents were supportive friends. They were there for every wedding, birthday party, and sadly funeral that all their friends needed them at. They always showed up. No matter what the circumstance, if I learned anything from my parents it was to show up.
This enabled me to truly love the people around me. I have been shown such an overwhelming amount of love from my parents that it would be a shame not to share it with others. And don’t get me wrong, I have shared me love with a lot of people who didn’t deserve it, but it didn’t make me cynical. I taught me more about the people who do deserve my love, love like my parents have for each other, their kids, and their friends. This love can not always be shared every day whether it be distance or just time, but it is something that is always there. My mom and dad were the ones who built that foundation of love for me and continue to build it for me every day.
Now really, what does any of this have to do with Valentine’s Day? Well that is where some of my earliest memories of love came from my parents, specifically my dad. Every year on anniversaries and birthdays my dad would bring my mom flowers or send them to her office. But, on one very special holiday, Valentine’s Day, we were all his valentines. He would buy us all flowers, a big bouquet for my mom and two small ones for me and my sister. I am honestly unsure how many years this went on and eventually those flowers changed to chocolate or jewelry, but the gift itself was never the point, it was always the thought. My dad always made us feel special on every day, but especially Valentine’s Day. These are some of my fundamental memories of love, and yes you can say it was from a ‘Hallmark’ holiday but at such a young age I was able to recognize so much love and care and it shaped me into who I am today. So thank you, mom and dad, for always showing me that love may not always be easy but it is worth it and for being my first and forever Valentines ♥