Oh my freaking wings! How in heaven’s name did I miss Valentine’s? I went to bed on the 13th of February, and woke up on the 15th! But wait. Isn’t that what the internet people asked us to do?
Oh well, to be honest, while others were awwwning, loving and celebrating, I , together with some people were trying to keep the awwn going. We worked ourselves out to ensure no relationship goes sour on or just after Valentine’s. While me, myself, and I on the otherhand, got a box of headache with a bunch of body pain.
Since the clock ticked “0:00,” declaring the start of a new month, February, there’s been a lot eyes and ears pollution. Everywhere I looked on the internet, I was being attacked with videos and pics of lovers, memes mocking the “singleship” and making it look like a disease more dreadful than the Corona virus, and some love stories that would leave even the most hardened of heart teary. I was tempted to throw my phone into the Lagos lagoon just to save my eyes and ears.
Then one day, I thought to myself like I always do every year. Do people really understand what Valentine’s Day is about? Because all people concentrate on is lovers. Maybe not all people, but most people. I wondered how many parents get their kids,especially the teens, some Valentine’s package to remind them that they are loved, and that they need not look far for love. To teach them that they do not need a boyfriend or a girlfriend before they feel loved.
I thought of young men and women too; how many of them will think of getting mom and dad gifts? How many of them will get something special for their siblings?
I feel most people think only of their partners on Val’s day. They forget others exist and focus solely on pleasing their partners. Yesterday, I saw a couple of people get something for their employees, and I found that to be a really sweet thing to do.
Has it ever occurred to you that everyday should be Valentine’s? February 14, I believe was just set aside to celebrate the Saint, Valentine and maybe in his honour, do something big or significant for people we love. Expressing our love should be something we do daily and not just once in a year. Love can be expressed in different ways. Gifts don’t have to be extravagant or something physical. The gift of a bright smile could brighten one’s world. A sweet genuine compliment could make one’s week. An act of kindness could change one’s perspective of life forever. A few words of prayers could save a life. Little things like this aren’t as little as you think them to be.
I’ve always thought Val’s day to be overrated anyways. Lol. Please don’t tag me a kill joy or bad belle. I love to see people celebrate love and all. In fact, I love “love,” I’m a romantic at heart, but I can’t develop a high blood pressure because I don’t have anyone to get me roses and everything good on Valentine’s. So the best thing to do is to be indifferent. I was going to say I didn’t get anyone gifts, then I remembered I did make a couple of people smile yesterday, cause I helped them in making someone else’s day. I also planned to call my mom to tell her I love her, mostly so I don’t look like a saddist since I didn’t wish anyone a happy Valentine’s Day. But I was too exhausted from being cupid girl and saving relationships. Maybe yesterday was my best Val’s.
Shout-out to Funmi, my roommate in 2017, for the cold bottle of Coke and plantain chips on Valentine’s Day. Lol. I’ll never forget that act of love. I did feel really loved. I jokingly asked for a cold bottle of Coke and plantain chips and like play like play, I got one. With the way I was excited ehn, one would think I got a car from my boyfriend. I actually got teary. It was nothing to the numerous gifts she got. In my eyes, the gift she got me was superior to the ones she got. That was the best gift I ever got for Val’s but yesterday, I got lots of smiles and ‘Thank you.’ Let’s see if next year’s will beat this year’s.
So here’s me saying Happy Valentine’s Day to you a day later. Don’t forget to show love everyday. Shout-out to Chisom, Ore and Ifeanyi for pushing my lazy ass. I really was just waiting for the day to pass before saying anything about it. Lol. Shout-out to Ebere too, I see you. So because you gave yourself a treat on Valentine’s Day now, you think you’re now a motivational speaker, ehn? Me that I’m on my way to Cape Verde in honour of St. Valentine, to spoil myself silly, I’m not making noise about it. Shout-out to Ifeyinwa too, I’m just here observing. She even wore red on Valentine’s Day and won’t let me have peace just because… See, I don’t want to seem like a hater. I won’t say more.
Anyway, dear reader; What does Valentine mean to you and how did you spend yours?