PINK!

Because I've become addicted to Pandora and the sappy love song playlist I've created, I'm afraid the Valentine scrooge I once was is finally wearing off. I'm not sure how I feel about this. While the premise of Valentine's day is certainly admirable, I hate what the commercialized holiday has become. I'm certainly not against spending money on those we love, but the whole display of affection thing often comes across as ungenuine. And why set aside just one day a year for this? Why don't we make effort more often to spend time with those we love? I would much rather be taken out to dinner or given a gift on some random day of the year than on Valentine's Day just because of social pressure to do something for or with your sweetheart.

Sounds cynical huh? Maybe it's because romance in reality isn't what I grew up thinking it should be. Why is it that all little girls have that fairy tale notion that they might someday find Prince Charming? He doesn't exist! And although I have grown up and reality has hardened my viewpoint of love, I still find myself infatuated with the thought the true love is possible. I find myself believing that some have found it and have even kept it alive over the years. And that thought intrigues me and challenges me - it makes me want to dig deeper and find out just how in the world those couples were able to keep the flame alive.

This past few weeks has been extremely eye opening for me - not just in my own life but the lives of others. Love is dying all around me. Marriages are crumbling. Even those that seem rock solid most likely are not what they seem to be. I am beginning to understand that very few in my age group are actually happy with the spouse they've been given. Happily married is a myth. And I'm frustrated with that because I just don't understand why.

However, this year, for Valentine's day - I'm not going to be the Scrooge Cupid. I'm going to embrace it. I'm going to fall for it - hook, line and sinker. I actually LOVE the Valentine's day decorations and flowers and doilies and hearts...because my favorite color is on full display! I love PINK and I love LOVE. I doubt I will get all carried away and probably won't even buy anything BUT I'm going to lose the attitude. I'm going to believe in love again. I'm going to ignore the statistics and I'm going to just let my heart feel.... I may even smile at cupid a time or two.