Because it's Valentine's Day

Earlier this morning, while I was ruminating on the topic I was going to write about, a friend walked up to me and asked if I had any plans for tomorrow. At first, I wondered what was so special about tomorrow to make her ask me about my plans, then it hit me, "Valentine's Day". People have been posting about it all week but I didn't really pay attention to it, seeing as I live alone and I have nobody to spend it with. So I told this friend of mine that I had zero plans and that I wasn't even sure if that was going to change, since almost every restaurant, mall and what have you in this town would be packed.

I really wasn't interested in putting myself through the stress of waiting in line at a crowded restaurant to buy myself something I can always get on a good day just because I want to celebrate Valentine's day.
All I had in mind was to sit in my room, read a book or two, listen to music and just zone out, retreat into my own world.

When this friend of mine left me, I started thinking about why exactly I needed to go out tomorrow, what exactly made tomorrow more special than every other day? Why did everyone around me feel the need to spend money they didn't really have just to fit into the status quo?

While the true history of Valentine's day is shrouded in mystery for most people, I do know that it is a day of love. To me, love doesn't always have to be merely sexual or romantic. To me, love is sacrificial, love is pure. There are so many different ways of celebrating love that don't have to involve pointlessly burning cash that can be put to good use. Why not do something worth remembering for someone who really needs it? Isn't love all about putting smiles on the faces of people who need it?
You can spend time with your girlfriend/boyfriend and still make a difference.

It wouldn't be so bad if you and your partner used part of the money you'd have otherwise burnt to buy foodstuffs and donate to an orphanage near you. You could also take a couple of indigent children to a "mama put" or "bukah" near you and feed them. Let them have full bellies, even if only for a day. Let their faces be lit up with smiles even if only for a day.

You could even decide to donate blood to someone who desperately needs it at a hospital near you. You don't really have to do these things alone, take your partner, the loyl, with you. You'd be doing a good deed and bonding with your love at the same time. Not to mention the fact that the object of your affection will see you in a different light, and if he/she cannot see the sense in what you're doing, then perhaps, you should rethink your choice of partners.

Love is about giving and sharing, love is sacrificial, love is not selfish. I would have said you should take a minute to ponder on what I've said but hey, what do I know?

Happy Valentine's Day people.