Valentine’s Day is defined by the dictionary as, the Christian feast day of St. Valentine, and the traditional day for sending a romantic card or gift to somebody to whom you have a very strong affection or passionate attraction and desire for. Travis Aitch, describes its history well at: http://goo.gl/zWabf
My aunt used to tell me that special days like Valentine’s Day didn’t mean anything to her because she was of the opinion that you should show the people you love every day how much they mean to you.
She’s right. Showing our love and appreciation for another should not be boiled down to one day of the year.
Still, I find Valentine’s Day a good day to celebrate love. Aside from it being a big business generator, I like to think of it as a reminder to acknowledge that special person in your life.
Life is busy and stressful for most of us. If any of you are like me, my days ‘fly by’, being deluged with work, responsibilities, family, and the list goes on. Even though we immensely care and appreciate our loved one, regrettably sometimes, we take them for granted. It happens and probably more often then we care to admit. Having a special day in the year is a good reminder to focus a little more quality attention on our special love that we may otherwise not find the time for.
For those of you that dread Valentine’s Day, use this day to step outside of the traditional Valentine’s definition by picking someone like a family member, neighbor, business associate etc. as your Valentine and show them with a kind deed or a gift how much you care for them. And if you have no one, then show your love by helping a stranger. It will keep you from feeling left out, and you will gain a sense of satisfaction by having done a good deed for another human being.
For those that dread the financial output, know there are other ways to show your Valentine that you love them; after all, true love is not based on expensive gifts.
Here are 10 ideas that also serve leaner budgets:
1. Make a special breakfast or dinner at home for your Valentine and serve it in another room like the living room or bedroom.
2. Create your own Valentine’s card and gifts.
3. Do a ‘personal renewing of your vows ceremony’, and if you’re not married, make up special vows for each other.
4. Make a Valentine dessert: heart shaped cake, cookies, or pie, to share together curled up on the couch with a special coffee.
5. Share a bath and be creative with scents, candles, music, and drinks.
6. Go for a long walk, hike, or do relaxing site seeing.
7. Treat your Valentine to a special foot or hand message ritual.
8. Watch movies together at home and serve homemade pizza, popcorn, drinks, and other treats all in the flare of Valentines.
9. Play card or board games, specifically ones that allow you to get to know your Valentine’s better.
10. Clear a small area in a room for slow dancing, using your own list of romantic music with candlelight.
Remember, it is the thought behind the giving that counts.
“The greatest gift that you can give to others is the gift of unconditional love . . .” Brian Tracy
Have a Happy Valentine’s Day and for my followers, I have written a short Valentine’s story.
Valentines at the Movies
By Alandra CL
Nicole entered the dimly lit cinema about forty-five minutes before the movie was to start. She liked having a seat directly in the center of the room, about six rows down from the back for the best view possible, and she had to come early to get it. As usual, the theatre lay deserted and quiet at this supper hour, especially today, on Valentine’s Day. Everyone was out with his or her sweetheart for dinner except her. She exhaled depressingly. The man she wanted as her Valentine hadn’t even noticed her, had never spoken a word to her. Every day, she went to the coffee shop, and everyday, he sat there with his colleagues at the table next to hers, drinking coffee and chatting, but not once had he spoken a word to her.
Nothing played on the large white screen she passed. Commercials and previews only started twenty minutes before movie time.
Nicole trotted up the side stairs to row “L” and slid in toward the center chair. She plunked down, dropping her drink in the cup holder and her bag in the chair beside her until she got comfortable. She was eager for the entertainment to begin, to distract her from her pathetic situation of being alone.
As she grabbed her popcorn, a tall man walked in wearing jeans, a white shirt, and a dark leather jacket.
Few came in this early. He glanced quickly around before he made his way up the steps to find a seat. Something about him looked familiar.
Nicole put a few popcorn pieces into her mouth and started chewing on the buttery bits. She wondered if he was alone like her. This year, Valentine’s Day was very depressing.
When the man reached her row, he began to make his way inward, toward her. It was then she recognized him, the man from the coffee shop, the one all the women ogled when they walked by, including her, and the one she had just been thinking about. How often had she wanted to walk up to him and start a conversation but lacked the nerve, too intimidated by his popularity and good looks.
Nicole immediately regretted wearing her comfortable but old sweats and having her long dirty-blonde hair simply clipped up, with no makeup on her face.
As he approached, she swallowed down her embarrassment. Why did she need to meet him today, looking like this, and all alone? She shouldn’t care what he thought but she did.
He walked up right next to her.
Nicole realized he looked taller standing.
He raked his fingers through his shiny dark hair. “You’re in my seat,” he said, frowning at her.
For a moment, she was speechless.
She finally found her voice. “What do you mean this is your seat? I was here first.”
“But I always sit in that chair.”
Nicole couldn’t believe his audacity. Over a hundred empty seats sat in the theatre room. Why did he need to have this one?
“I was here first,” she retorted. She came forty-five minutes early to get a seat, and she was not about to hand it over to someone else even if he was drop-dead-gorgeous and the man of her dreams.
“Then I will have to take the one beside you.” He grinned at her reaction and plunked down right next to her, unzipping his jacket. A whiff of leather followed by expensive cologne drifted over to her.
He had been joking, she realized. Nicole wasn’t sure how to react to that.
Thankfully, he hadn’t recognized her. She breathed a sigh of relief. She would still be able to walk into the coffee shop tomorrow with some dignity.
The large theatre suddenly felt very small with him beside her. It felt almost intimate having him this close. Nicole threw more popcorn into her mouth, trying not to let this man affect her. For months, her attraction to him had grown, hoping he would give her some sign that he felt the same way. As far as he was concerned, she didn’t exist.
“Do you know what the movie is about?” he asked her. His voice sounded deeper and huskier than usual.
When she looked at him, she noticed his eyes were a deep blue, his nose straight, and his two-day stubble emphasized the strong line of his square jaw. Up close, he looked even more sinful, if that was possible.
Nicole had to force out her answer, hopping she wouldn’t stutter. “Mainly, it’s about the end of the world coming and how various people spend the last hour of their life.”
“Sounds gloomy!” he indicated.
Nicole popped a few more pieces into her mouth, unsure of what to say or do. Self-consciously, she tucked a lose strand of her hair behind her ear.
Now what? Was there a reason he sat next to her?
Propriety demanded she offer him some of her popcorn since he had none. “Would you like some?” She inched the bag in his direction.
He smiled, showing his white teeth. “Sure!” He scooped out a handful, and one at a time, he flicked the pieces into his mouth.
“By the way, I’m Derek.”
“Nicole,” she replied.
“So Nicole, if you knew you only had one hour left to live, what would you do?”
He grabbed his next handful of popcorn and continued munching.
The question caught her by surprise. “I’m not sure. I’ve never thought about it before.”
She hadn’t. One hour seemed so little time, yet for the life of her, she wouldn’t know what she would do with her last hour.
“There must be someone you would want to share it with.”
Nicole had no one. Her parents had both passed away when she was in her teens. Almost two years ago, she had split up with her boyfriend when she found him in her roommate’s bed. Only having moved to the big city four months ago, to start her new job, she barely knew anyone; the reason that she was here, alone.
“No, no one,” she said achingly.
He squinted, and she hoped it was not pity she saw in his eyes.
“How about you?” she asked, wanting a distraction from her pathetic situation. She had contemplated for weeks now if he was with someone.
“I would share that last hour with the woman I love.”
Her heart sank. Why were the good guys always taken. “I hope she knows how lucky she is,” Nicole said enviously.
His brow rose. “I’m not sure. I’ve never told her how I feel.”
“Why not?” she blurted out accidentally.
Derek shrugged his shoulder, seemingly unbothered by her personal question. “Not sure.”
“Hey, life is short, so make the most of it. You should tell her, especially today, being that it’s Valentines.” Nicole knew if she was together with him, she could not hear the words, I love you, uttered often enough by his lips and preferably in the throngs of passion.
“But what if she doesn’t love me in return?”
“Has she given you any reason to think otherwise?”
“No,” he shook his head, “but she hasn’t indicated that she does either.”
“If you’re asking for my advice, I think every woman would want to know that her man loves her.”
Derek stared at her reflectively for a moment before he grabbed another handful of her popcorn.
“What’s stopping you?” Nicole thought the conversation too personal, but hey, maybe the guy needed someone to talk to. How often had she wished for someone to share her troubles with?
“I just can’t seem to find the right words.” He looked away uncomfortably.
Nicole sympathized with him, realizing he was scared just as she had been when it came to confronting him all those weeks at the coffee shop. Although now, she was happy she had not, knowing he had someone else.
Yet what did he have to be scared about? He was good looking and in the short time she had talked to him, he seemed a genuinely nice man as she had always thought him to be. Hell, the woman had to be crazy not to love him back.
“There are no right words,” she replied. “Any words spoken in love will be the right ones. Go and tell her. It’s obvious that she’s important to you. Valentines is the perfect time for that sort of thing.” Nicole wondered why he wasn’t together with the woman.
“Thanks for the advice. I’ll do that,” he said turning his body in the chair to face her. “I’ve fallen in love with you, Nicole. I have seen you every day in that coffee shop for the last three months, and with each passing day, my feelings for you get stronger.”
Her hand flew to cover her gapping mouth.
“Please tell me that I won’t’ regret saying these words.”
A moment of silence passed before she nodded her head from side to side, choking out a reply, “Never!”
He smiled before leaning forward and whispering, “Happy Valentines.” And then, he placed a kiss on her lips.
The End
Regards!
Alandra CL
I love to hear from you, so email me at acl@alandracl.com
Official Blog of Alandra CL
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I have decided to do something different for my blog. Rather than write about my experiences, insights, and mistakes in the traditional sense, I’ve chosen to write short-short stories that incorporate them.
She swallowed down, trying to find the courage.
Samantha tapped her foot nervously.
Her heart pounded as she realized it was her turn. It took all her courage to get her feet to move forward.
“I was uncertain if it was a good idea,” she quickly replied, relieved it was nothing more.
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