5 Ways to Be Your own personal Valentine
This Valentine's Day, whether you have a significant other or not, fall in love with yourself. Have fun with yourself. Celebrate the relationship with yourself. As Marcia Wieder said, "Practice being at home with yourself, as you step out to be with others."
"But that's selfish," you may say. Okay, well let's pause a minute before we continue. What is Valentine's Day about, anyway? What is the history of Valentine's Day and when did it begin? Today, the Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentinus or Valentine, and all were martyred. Not a good beginning for a day dedicated to love, and not very romantic!
Back in Rome in the third century, Emperor Claudius came to the practical conclusion that single men made better soldiers than married ones. So he made it illegal for them to marry. What happened to the young women? One can only guess. Enter Valentine. He was outraged over this barbarous decree and he began marrying young couples in secret. When Claudius found out, Valentine was executed.
A more romantic version spins the tale of Valentine being tossed into prison and falling in love with a young girl-probably the jailer's daughter-who visited him whenever she could. Legend has it that before his execution, Valentine sent her the first Valentine. He signed it "From your Valentine."
With a romantic and heroic story like this, one can easily understand why, during the middle ages, Valentine became one of the most popular saints in France and England. By the middle of the eighteenth century, friends and lovers in all social classes exchanged tokens of affection or handwritten notes. In America, handmade valentines were exchanged in the early 1700's. By the 1840's, valentines began to be mass-produced.
Today, an estimated one billion valentine cards are sent each year and approximately 85 percent of all valentines are purchased by women!
What can we do this year that will make this Valentine's Day unique and unforgettable? While it is certainly fine to have a romantic date with your special whomever, you can also make some extra time just for yourself. Here are a few suggestions for making this Valentine's Day special, memorable and fun.
1.Go see a psychic or Tarot card reader. Take a friend along. Even if you don't believe in any of it, make it an exciting adventure. Ask the reader to tell you about your love life. You don't have to spend a fortune and it can be a lot of fun. And what if the psychic is right?
2.As the quote goes "If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular?" ~Author Unknown. Go out and buy a sexy piece of lingerie. It doesn't matter whether you have a lover or spouse. Do it for yourself. Be bold and daring. Try on several until you find the most outrageous one you can afford. Then buy it! Wear it on Valentine's Night. Watch a romantic movie. Listen to music and dance wildly. Eat chocolate. Buy yourself flowers. Drink champagne. Write a love poem to yourself.
3.Have your horoscope done. You could invite a significant other or friend to do the same. Then go to the nearest bar or Starbucks and have a ball, reading about yourselves. Of course, you could always make it more intimate by sharing a private night by the fire, in a restaurant or in bed, discussing your charts and drinking wine. It doesn't matter if you believe in it. Just make it fun, and enjoy the time together.
4.Go to your neighborhood bar, or any cozy bar. Ask the bartender to create a cocktail just for you, using your first name or your pet's name or your astrological sign. It will give the bartender something creative to do, and you will enjoy your own personal cocktail. (I've tried this myself, and the bartender has always been game and cheerfully accepted the challenge.) It's also a good time to flirt a little. Go ahead, be bold.
5.Finally, since this is a time for love and sharing, why not do something a little different? Something that will touch those who have often been forgotten. Go to your local store and buy several small boxes of chocolates; as many as will fit in your budget. Locate your local retirement home, approach the front desk and ask the person in charge if you can hand out some candy to the occupants. (I doubt they'll say no.) Then watch the faces of everyone present, as you pass out the boxes of candy. I guarantee a heart-opening experience that you will never forget.
Valentine's Day is about love, so whatever you decide to do, remember to treat yourself with gentleness, kindness and respect. As Dr. Sonya Friedman said, "The way you treat yourself sets the standard for others."
Now, as I eat a delicious espresso truffle and sip some French Champagne, I'm remembering the words of the immortal Mae West. "I don't like myself, I'm crazy about myself."
Happy Valentine's Day!
Elyse Douglas
Copyright ? 2012 Elyse Douglas
Elyse Douglas' novel entitled The Astrologer's Daughter is about the 25 year-old secret affair between a professional astrologer and a politician, and how their illegitimate daughter seeks revenge on her father during the last weeks of his presidential campaign.
The author has a website with strong focus on Romans Novels. To learn more, remember to pay a visit to his web site today to find grat romance novel online.
