It’s Valentine’s Day and there’s something in the air, and I’m not just talking about love.
It’s pressure.
The pressure to show up and show off all the love we have inside. The pressure to shout from the rooftops how much we love our significant others. There’s even an undeniable pressure to curate sentimental posts on all of our social media platforms.
It can be a bit overwhelming.
Everywhere you go, shelves are crammed full of candies, heart-shaped trinkets, and googly-eyed stuffed animals. You can find yourself in a daze when it comes to greeting cards. There are rows and rows of them exploding with words of love and admiration. You can find ones for your mom, your sister, your husband, and even the nice, little old lady down the street.
We tend to put so much unnecessary pressure on ourselves when it comes to this specific holiday and maybe we shouldn’t.
I get it.
When my husband and I were first starting out, still drifting on new love, we went all out every year. Gifts, candies, cards, and the fanciest of dinners. It was very sweet. Then we had children and our focus inevitably shifted. Don’t get me wrong, it’s perfectly fine to go all out if that’s what’s on your heart. In fact, every once in awhile my husband and I will surprise each other with something small. But there are no outrageous expectations.
My point is that you shouldn’t feel pressured to break the bank. Celebrating or not celebrating Valentine’s Day doesn’t define you or your relationships.
You’re probably thinking, wow, why does she hate Valentine’s Day so much? I don’t, actually. I enjoy the heck out of it. For me, it looks different than it used to and I embrace it. It’s less chaotic and less stressful. I’m less worried about whether my husband knows how I feel about him on this one day of the year because I try to show him daily.
Instead, we shower our kids with all the heart-shaped goodness. We even take them out for a special family dinner. And while they’re content in their little chocolate comas, embracing their adorable googly-eyed stuffed bears, my husband and I can sneak a few kisses in. It’s perfection.
So however your Valentine’s Day looks this year, try not to overthink it, don’t feel like you have to spend all the money, and step away from the giant bear (because cute as they are, no one really needs one!). The people in your life who you love and love you right back don’t care about the over-the-top gestures. They only care about being with you.
How will you celebrate Valentine’s Day this year?
