Celebrating Love

I'm blessed to know that our perceptions of Valentine's Day grow with us. 

In high school, it seemed so tragic to be without a Valentine. I see this in my female students' eyes. My girlfriends and I would buy each other gifts because we were tired of not receiving our own. The girls had each other's backs.

In college, it was about commiserating and "protesting." We celebrated Single's Awareness Day. I have some vague memory of Bekah Reed and black. Maybe it was a wing event? It became more of a joke than a reason to feel sorry for ourselves.

As a single adult, I've learned to appreciate the recognition of the day around me. I smiled at the kids and daddies buying ingredients to make dinner at Trader Joe's. I thought Jessica and Kevin's simple plans sounded absolutely perfect. I felt thankful that my mom thought of me and brought me flowers home from her trip to the Farmer's Market in the morning. I got sweet cards from Cindy and Nana. I feel like I'm participating, even though I'm not "in love." I'm seeing beauty in a day I spent much energy hating for so many years.

I'm glad that we grow up.