Day 6 - A New Outlook

To celebrate: a verb meaning to observe a day or event with ceremonies of respect, festivities or rejoicing. 

My something new for today: as a single person – I celebrated Valentine’s Day.  Now, that is not to say that this was my first Valentine’s Day spent single. Oh no, my friends, this was not my first rodeo.  It is, however, the first time that I can truly say I celebrated the day sans a significant other.

My single Valentine’s Day mindsets have run the gamut from denying the day’s entire existence, to total disgust at this “Halmark” holiday, to feigned “I am single, hear me roar” pride.  I don’t know that I’ve ever made it through this day of love and roses alone yet feeling content.  Until today.

So my approach to this holiday has been steadily shifting over this past year.  Not that I’ve thought about February 14th every day for the past 364 days, but I suppose my approach to being single has been evolving, and it has manifested in my experience on this day – the bane of every single person's existence.  A couple of weeks ago, over dinner with my brother and his girlfriend, a light bulb went off for me.  My brother’s girlfriend told me that in Honduras, today is celebrated as “The Day of Love and Friendship.”  How awesome is that?  I decided then and there that I would celebrate “The Day of Love and Friendship” as well.

In addition to my revelation over dinner, another experience in the past week played into my plans for today.  I was in a yoga class, and as I reluctantly pulled myself out of savasana and bowed forward to seal my practice, I opened my eyes to find a single Hershey’s kiss in front of my mat.  A collective “awww!” swept across the room as we realized that, as we had been lying prone and sweaty, the teacher was busy leaving tiny reminders of love for us to find.  That little pink Hershey’s kiss made me so happy, and I wanted to share that feeling with others.

Today - that is exactly what I did.  I celebrated a day of love and friendship.  Over the past week, I bought cards and candy for people that I love.  I bought chocolate kisses and Hershey’s miniatures, and decorative boxes to hold candy.  I even bought a painted, standup “xoxo” to put on my bookshelf, and, for $3.50, I bought myself a little stuffed dog with a red bow because 1. I’ve spent more on a Starbuck's latte and 2. He is adorable.  All of these things brought me joy, and giving them to others (except the dog – he’s mine) made me even happier. 

I left kisses on each of my students’ desks and watched their faces as they found them.  I told them about the Day of Love and Friendship, and I accepted with thanks every baked good and piece of candy that was offered to me.  I received - in order – 1. one piece of decadent red velvet cake topped with Oreo cookie crust and double chocolate icing  2. A funfetti cupcake  3. A box of Mike and Ike’s  4. A rolo, and 5. A Valentine poem that centered around my love of internet meme’s.   I ate the cake and the cupcake and the rolo.  I didn’t feel badly about it.  In fact, I felt awesome. 

My day of love and friendship was filled with tiny moments of festivity and rejoicing that, combined, made for more than I ever could have asked for.  As I scanned my mind and heart for any traces of bitterness or cynicism – I found them absent.  Buoyed by the love of so many - today, I celebrated.