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Are expectations too high?

I have a confession to make. I’m not a fan of Valentine’s Day. And when you get a gorgeous drawing like this from your six-year-old nephew, who cares about any other gifts anyway?

When it comes to V-day, I guess that I just don’t have fond memories. When I was in my 20’s, I recall sitting in the office on February 14 every year with anticipation. That there may just be some mystery person out there that would send me a card, single rose, chocolates, anything really!

And the reality: it seemed like everyone around me was getting gorgeous flower arrangements except me! Everywhere I looked there was a mass of beautiful boxes filled with gorgeous blooms. I couldn’t escape it: at the reception desk (for a work colleague), at my local cafe (for the barista), in the street (loads of other people getting stuff that I wasn’t).

Note to self: February 14 is just one day of the year…

But then as I got older (and hopefully wiser), I cared less and less about February 14. And now my feeling is that it’s more about how you’re treated on the other 364 days of the year, instead of focusing on just one day.

Focus on having fun with people who make your life better

And the other thing I discovered is that there were heaps of fun things I could do on February 14 without any hint of flowers and FOMO:

Organise a games night with my besties
Cook a nice meal for family members I love
Watch my fave movie (ok yes maybe Love Actually of course)
Add to point above: with lots of ice cream and popcorn
Google and shop for ‘Valentine’s Day gifts for me’

Valentine’s Day gifts for me

Now to expand on the last point above. As I have gotten wiser (sounds better than older), and whether I have a partner or not, I don’t see anything wrong with treating myself on V-Day. It doesn’t have to be extravagant, or expensive, and if you order online, it’s delivered to your door, just like flowers!

Treat yourself with gorgeous accessories

Need some inspiration for gift ideas? One thing that I do like about V-day, is that it’s an opportunity to support small businesses (and given the challenging last couple of years, small biz owners need our help).

Unique handmade jewellery always makes a fabulous gift. This collection by Australian jeweller, Melanie Woods, is a sensational bohemian-inspired range that you’ll adore. Choose from gorgeous sterling silver, gold plated or precious stone pieces that will add the perfect touch to your styling.

Or if you’re more of a handbag kinda person, browse the selection of bags and purses by Australian suppliers, Sassy Duck and Louenhide. There’s a fabulous range of canvas and faux leather options to suit every taste. And they are super versatile and affordable, which is a bonus.

Everyone has an opinion on Valentine’s Day and that’s ok

Every day I see different articles and reports on what V-Day means. So I ran a quick poll on Facebook with these results:

You can see from the results above, that there’s lots of opinions on V-Day. But for me, whether you love it or hate it, as long as we are kind to each other and respect other opinions, that’s what’s important.

If you’re interested to read more on the topic, here’s a piece with a different view from Mark D. White Ph.D., chair of the Department of Philosophy at the College of Staten Island/CUNY.

So whether you’re the one who: googles ‘Valentine’s Day gifts for me’, organises a romantic night, or plans a night with your gal pals, enjoy the day and have a great time!