Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. With only fourteen days left to prepare, guys and gals, it is time to get moving. Whether you have a special someone to share the day with or not, Valentine’s Day is a day of excitement and joy. The people that usually call Valentine’s Day a “Hallmark Holiday” not worthy of celebration are the same people who are sitting at home alone, watching television, begging for the day to come to its end. Just because a person is single does not mean that Valentine’s Day has suddenly become “Singles Awareness Day,” it just means that that person has more than one person to target with their friendliness. Friends, family, loved ones, and random strangers can all be touched by the happiness that is Valentine’s Day. The prerequisites are simple, but the rewards are huge and comforting.Everyone Likes Surprises
Whether they are willing to admit it or not, everyone likes to be surprised. The trick is reading the “surprisee.” There are three key steps in confidently and successfully completing the objective, a surprise. First off, do NOT tip the surprisee off, whatsoever, to your secret task. If that means telling absolutely no one, then do so; it will be worth it in the end. If that means involving their parents, their friends, and their younger siblings too, then do it. Go to extreme lengths to keep it a secret! Guys are generally less perceptive than girls, so keeping the surprise, well, a surprise, can be slightly easier when a girl is surprising a guy. Boys, do not be discouraged; girls generally show more gratitude for surprises than guys do. Surprising a girl just requires a special kind of integrity. However, do not let this fact cause you to slack in your stealth abilities. Secondly, prepare! Plan out every part of the surprise, including what would happen if the surprisee would discover part of the plan. Third, and most importantly, know the suprisee. Some suprisees would hate, absolutely hate, to be surprised in front of people. Others enjoy the attention. A simply “Happy Valentine’s Day” balloon left in the middle of someone’s room may be the best gift they have ever received in their life. The supriser must know the suprisee, otherwise, the surprise in question is left to be unstable and a possible flop, and after all the effort put forth to successfully complete the mission, that would truly suck.
The Real Definition of Love
There are a large number of people who feel squeamish when they hear the world “love.” But love is not a word that is supposed to cause the uprising of unpleasant feelings. In fact, it’s supposed to do just the opposite. Love does not mean crush or relationship or marriage or commitment or any of those words that are generally related to being in love. Above all things, love is caring about the well-being of another person; love is consideration, patience, understanding, and willingness to make someone feel better. Love is a universal term of endearment that has been construed over the years. To love someone is to care for them in ways that a brother cares about a sister or the way that friends care for one another. So this Valentine’s Day, if there is a friend out there that means the world to someone, make sure they know it. The gesture does not have to be big, a card or some candy, even a simple “Thank you for being there for me through it all” will do the trick. February 14th is a day of spreading joy and happiness, whether it means with a loved one, a friend, or someone who just needs a little lift in their day; it is a day for generosity to bloom and kindness to shine.
Mind trumps Money
It is so easy to get carried away in the quantity of what is bought than the quality. Well guess what. The person the gift is for will never know how much you spent, well unless you tell them. Point is, a perfectly worded 99-cent card is worth more than an impersonal five-dollar card any day. Ten dollars spent on a homemade cake trumps fifteen dollars on a store-bought cake. A single rose with a personal note presented with thought and love trumps a dozen roses given without a care. Gifts are supposed to be personal, well thought out, and meaningful. If that means that less money is involved, so be it. Never feel as though not enough money was spent. The real question to ask is, “Is this gift her?” or “Is this gift him?” If the answer is yes, then shopping/creating/picking/chaos is over, and relaxation can begin. However, if the answer is no, do not automatically reach into your wallet. Take a break to think about why the answer is no. How can the gift be made more personal? Maybe the answer is the presentation, which is usually the impersonal part. Maybe it is the actual gift. Instead of just giving flowers, ask what his or her favorite flower/color/scent is. Long story short, get to planning now because fourteen days is just enough time to concoct a brilliant gift plan mostly stress-free.
Take a look at who is in your life, who has been there for you through the worst of it, who has made you smile in times of need, and who deserves a bit of love on this upcoming Valentine’s Day. It is worth a bit of extra effort to say thank you in a meaningful and memorable way. Spread some love, happiness, and cheer this fourteenth of February and watch as it lightens up the lives of those closest to you.
By Mya Ervin, editor-in-chief
