My Thoughts on Valentine's Day

I was sitting here earlier thinking about Valentine's Day. Personally, I think it is one of the dumbest holidays ever! And I use the term holiday very loosely here. Love is something you should express every single day and it shouldn't require thought. And I'm going to scold all of you ladies out there who expect your husband or boyfriend to go out of his way and do something special for you. Love is a two way street. If you expect that out of your other half, then you better damn well be willing to go out of your way to do the same. Love isn't found in gifts. They may be given with love, but they aren't love. There is a difference. If I had a dollar for every woman I have heard whine and complain because she didn't get diamonds, flowers or whatever costly thing she expected to receive, then I'd be in a better place financially.

You know what you should expect from your man? Time. That's it. Simply time. Because at the end of this freak show we call life, you aren't taking any of those material things with you. And the most important thing you are going to leave behind is memories of yourself. Where do memories come from? Time. Time spent with the ones you love. And nothing special has to happen during that time either. I don't care if you are sitting in a barren room with just you and the love of your life, surrounded in glorious silence. One thing is still happening and that is the passing of time.

Time is something you will never get back. There are always more flowers, candy, jewelry, etc., but time is priceless. When you are lying on your deathbed, I'm pretty sure that your final thoughts aren't going to be, "Gee, I wish I had gotten more diamonds in my life," or "If only he had taken me to an expensive restaurant instead of the drive-thru." If those are your final thoughts, shame on you and may God have mercy on your soul. I know that no matter when my time comes, all I'm going to be thinking is, "I wish I had more time to spend with everyone I love."

Thinking back on the loved ones that I have lost, the memories I hold most dear aren't the ones where they bought me things. It's the little things that they did or said. It's a scent, a sound, a song. The things that are unique to each person. 

My husband has told me several times that he's thankful that I'm not a typical woman. Honestly, I'm just as thankful as he is. I think my life would be full of disappointment if I based my happiness on material things and shallow expectations. If my husband chooses to buy me things (expensive or not), then that is just a bonus to me. Just knowing that he chooses to share his time, thoughts and love with me is so much more fulfilling. We can sit in the same room for hours and not say a word to one another and know that we are still connected. Our love is louder than the silence.