Valentine's Day has been celebrated for centuries in western culture:
The first recorded association of Valentine's Day with romantic love is in Parlement of Foules (1382) by Geoffrey Chaucer
For this was on seynt Volantynys day
Whan euery bryd comyth there to chese [choose] his make [mate].
Source: Wikipedia
Almost every culture has a day like St. Valentine's Day set aside just for lovers and potential lovers alike. In China it's called The Night of Sevens. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers anybody? In Japan and South Korea it's called White Day. It's even celebrated secretly in Iran! Please don't tell the Imams that I told you!
Today however, Valentine's Day seems to have become a Day of Atonement and reconciliation for many men. What exactly is meant by this? Whatever kind of troubles guys have caused in their relationships, they can always be made better through simple gestures of love. It matters little whether it's greeting cards, roses, or champagne. The fact that guys have actually taken the time to show their wives or their girlfriends that they care, means everything to women across the world.
So, that's it, right? Men can solve their marriage or relationship problems over the course of one day, 24 hours? That's one day out of the 365 and 24 hours out of the 8760 available. When you do the math, it'd probably not enough. Looking at it this way makes me think that us guys need to do much, much more.
It's that easy? All they have to do is give their wives a dozen roses and the problems are solved?
Of course, if it were that simple there probably wouldn't be a need for Valentine's Day, marriage counseling, anti-depressants, separation, annulments, or divorce! The fact that a cold day in February means so much to women, shows how little us guys do during the year to show our love and appreciation. Think about it. If men took the time once a month to tell their wives, their girlfriends, how much they mean to them, how much they love her, and how beautiful she is, there would a lot less need for marriage counseling, separation and divorce.
The fact that birds are not chirping or mating in the middle of February seems of little importance. The cold temperatures probably bring people together even more. The reality is that women just want to know that the men in their lives care for them, love them, and think of them. Yet, it remains a daunting and elusive challenge for most men. Thus resulting in the significance and importance of one sub-zero day in the middle of February. The bottom line it seems is that everyone wants to love and be loved, if only for one day a year.
So I suggest you get out there and give the one your with the attention that they deserve. Send them a card when it's not expected. Send them a singing telegram. Send them flowers. Send them your love. Whatever you do, do it now.
Nobody else does that? Who cares? Your lover chose you because you were different. You were unique. Why not act like it?
What are you waiting for?
written by: Alan Bentley