Love Shouldn't Be Bought, But Merely Given

Join me for a little pre-Valentine’s Day rant

Though before I begin, let me set the record straight

I’m not single, bitter, & jaded, though I once was

Happily taken am I, but my views on this day are ones I won’t recant

My view is and has always been this about love & devotion

We should show one another how much we care

But not just on designated days, but throughout the year

Why do so many let the calendar dictate when we show our emotions?

And why should we feel compelled to let money fill our needs?

Gifts are nice, but random acts of kindness mean so much more

Like a handwritten note on a napkin, back massage, or perhaps helping out with chores

Not individually, but as a whole, we’ve become a nation full of greed

They say that love, friendship, and the like are free

And that is how it should be, not having to spend to show our feelings

It sickens me when I see people talk about how much their beau should spend

For if they really love them, surely it shouldn’t be difficult to cough up the money

I know many who aren’t greedy & while a gift is nice to receive

They know it’s the little things that count the most

But, there are too many out there who don’t see things that way

Life is only great when there are gifts to retrieve

For me, flowers, candy, and the like are nice things

But I don’t need them to know how much someone cares

Hugs, kisses, laughter, & being able to make happy memories is what matters most

Love is shown best by the way you treat me, not pretty packages tied up with strings

So this Valentine’s Day, I choose to spend it without spending

My beau & I both agreed that what matters most is the love we share

So a quiet night in to watch movies, play cards, & cuddle on the couch is what we will do

Focusing not on store bought gifts, but on a love we share that’s unending

***NOTE***

For those who want to celebrate the day, I am not saying you shouldn’t. The celebration of love is wonderful, but stop and think about this…is it really necessary to spend a lot of money to show the ones you love how you feel? Make a handmade card, cook something special instead of going out to eat, help your kids make handmade cards for the kids in their class, etc. And if you really feel compelled to spend money, buy one flower instead of a dozen or buy the smaller box of chocolates. It shouldn’t be about quantity, but quality. If your love is real, long lasting, & true…those special in your life won’t be heartbroken that you didn’t spend much. The thought really does count. And hey, remember this when/if you celebrate as well, it’s not just about sweethearts. Love is about family & friendships as well. Celebrate love, all love, and all year long whenever the mood strikes. <3