"Bob's Burgers", one of the funniest shows on network television, recently perfectly and hilariously summed up Valentine's Day and how simultaneously frivolous and serious it is in roughly twenty seconds. The painfully awkward Tina gets a valentine from her crush... and her worst nightmare comes true. It's labeled "From:"! Not "Love", not a little heart, "From!" The horror!
We all acted like this to some degree in high school, and like it or not, it sticks with us.
Due to various family and work-related commitments on both sides, my fiancee and I are doomed to a spectacularly crappy Valentine's Day. The day of, there just isn't going to be much time for romance. And despite the fact that in the seven Valentine's Days I've known her, she's made it abundantly clear she couldn't care less about the holiday, a part of me is still a little sad and anxious that our normal Valentine's plans won't be coming together.
But the key thing is, first of all, neither of us truly take it that seriously. I'd be in trouble if I didn't get her chocolate, but that's literally all she wants: Good chocolate. Similarly, I don't expect anything out of her that I don't expect all year, and that she doesn't expect from me: Patience, respect, trust, and love.
That's really the thing. A good relationship isn't defined by candy hearts or jewelry, but in how two people treat each other. Valentine's Day, in that context, is just a day to goof around. A relationship endures because people believe in it, all year round.
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Awesome post! So true. My husband doesn't have to give me diamonds because he is a gem, nor candy because he is usually pretty sweet. I am happy with the flowers in our garden which he grows carefully. This might sound corny but it endures.