By Mayli Martin
Even though Valentine’s Day is in a couple weeks, surely people are thinking about plans. Usually there are two sides to Valentine’s Day: the loving couples that spend their day with dates and affection and the people not in a relationship thinking about what to do. However, what if this year was different?
Love is known to be a feeling that keeps everyone going and it is needed to survive. Even if it’s not romantic, love can be our motivation and strength to get things done and take on a new day. When Valentine’s Day is seen as a day for couples though, many sometimes see the special holiday as a sad day reflecting on their life, but it should not be like that. Everyone should be able to feel affection, and even though love should be spread every day, Valentine’s Day should be celebrated with everyone to make sure the whole world feels loved. So here is some things to do on the love bug holiday:
For couples, taking a nice day with one’s significant other is always a nice time. Planning the day to express love with gestures, kind words, flowers, etc. are always good ways to make people feel special. However, taking the time to do a simple sign of affection is always special no matter how small. Meaningful things are memorable, and handmade things can be very special. Handwritten letters and cards, flowers, etc. are always nice, and even though girls are the ones to get the flowers, guys should get them too. Everyone should feel loved on this holiday, so showing affection to both sides of the relationship is nice, getting flowers and doing fun activities like baking, dancing, and even just watching a movie!
For those not in a relationship, it can be harder to have the motivation to get up and go into the day, some feeling sad from witnessing the affection they long for. There are options, though, to make this day special for them too. For girls, Galentine’s is a great way to show your love and appreciation for the girls one is close to. Taking the day to go out and dance the night away is a great time for a girls’ night, and showing love to friends is always special. Little gift baskets that have been popular are cute to give with friends’ favorite things and even if one is just spending the day to talk with friends about their life, goals, dreams, and what is new, it is a nice day to catch up and spend time with the people that have been there for you for as long as one can remember, showing love for their support.
Another option is for anyone and everyone. Share love to everyone! Give little valentine’s to all friends to show appreciation for them, even if it is just a little note saying how much they matter. Friendship is a special relationship for people that can always show motivation and love even if it is not in romantic ways, so showing appreciation for their help and long talks is very special for Valentine’s Day. Also, one can spread love around the school. One never knows when a little note saying how special someone is could help them keep going, so leave notes around the school. Give notes to teachers thanking them for helping with learning and spread notes to remind people how special they are. Sometimes even a smile to someone seen in the hallway when passed can make someone happy, so show love by making the “Couple’s Holiday” into a day for affection for everyone in one’s life.
Finally, there are two options that can be very special. For Valentine’s this year, show parents and families how much they matter with appreciation with hugs, cards, and more! Even spending time with your family is showing gratitude for everything they have done and on the day of love, make sure to celebrate family too because of their love and support they give everyday to make one who they are. Additionally, show love to the world everyone lives on. Take care of the environment, plant flowers, sit and enjoy nature, or just take a walk to enjoy the beauty the world encompasses. The world that everyone lives on sometimes goes unnoticed, so take the time to enjoy the sunsets, the trees, the waves of Lake Michigan, etc. and take care of the world. The Earth is our home so showing love to it by taking care of it is very important, and Valentine’s Day can be a special day to do so.
To close, remember to show love to oneself. Love is important, so take the day to love oneself by doing things that are enjoyable. Take a walk, relax at home, eat what is desired, call a friend that has not been talked to in a while, read a book, have a spa day, or even just listen to music or a podcast. It is important to take care of oneself and appreciate who one is, so do not forget to show affection for one’s own body and mind on this holiday too!
Wishing everyone a Happy Valentine’s Day in the next couple weeks, remember the impact love can have on others and make sure to show everyone special in one’s life affection. This day can be hard for some, but by celebrating love with the people one cares for, the changed attitude on this day can make it special. Spread love to everyone like cupid, and make Valentine’s Day nurturing this year!