This is that time of the year when chocolates and candies sell well, flowers increase in prices, restaurants full and the love fever is upon us especially among the young.
Just look at window displays in malls and department stores as all those red, pink flowers, cherubim’s and stuff consciously and subconsciously program our minds and remind us of that time of the year when love is celebrated, gifts should be brought, and affections should be expressed. And many take advantage of this situation…
A guy walks into a post office one day to see a middle-aged, balding man standing at the counter methodically placing “Love” stamps on bright pink envelopes with hearts all over them. He then takes out a perfume bottle and starts spraying scent all over them.
His curiosity getting the better of him, he goes up to the balding man and asks him what he is doing. The man says, “I’m sending out 1,000 Valentine cards signed, ‘Guess who?’”
“But why?” asks the man.
“I’m a divorce lawyer,” the man replies.
Some wise guy came up with a compilation of what he or she calls “Valentine Thoughts” and while some are thought provoking others would bring a smile on your face. Here is the list:
In regard to the song ‘How Deep Is Your Love’ what do you use to measure it?
Why do some displays of “I love you only” valentine cards indicate that they are available in multi-packs?
Why doesn’t cupid have a girlfriend?
They say when you are in love, it feels like butterflies in your stomach, right? Well how do they know what butterflies in your stomach feel like?
We cannot all do great things, but can’t we all do small things with great love?
Sure, you can give without loving, but isn’t it a fact that you cannot love without giving?
Isn’t love an unusual game? Where else can you have either two winners or no winners?
Nice! But what about the historical origin of how Valentine’s Day came into being?
“One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine’s actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.”
It seems that early accounts of St. Valentine’s Day celebrations always have something to do with martyrdom.
Wikipedia says that the day first became associated with romantic love within the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the 14th century, when the tradition of courtly love flourished. In 18th-century England, it evolved into an occasion in which lovers expressed their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery, and sending greeting cards (known as “valentines”).
William Shakespeare of course popularized and romanticized it further. NPR.org website says: “Eventually, the tradition made its way to the New World. The industrial revolution ushered in factory-made cards in the 19th century. And in 1913, Hallmark Cards of Kansas City, Mo., began mass producing valentines. February has not been the same since.
Today, the holiday is big business: According to market research firm IBIS World, Valentine’s Day sales reached $17.6 billion last year; this year’s sales are expected to total $18.6 billion.”
In many sectors Valentine’s Day is equated to love and romance in the physical level and the concept of sacrifice has disappeared and replaced by pleasures of what one can get from another.
But what do I know anyway? I am not a historian, and neither am I a hopeless romantic. I am merely a businessperson who is pragmatic in thinking, dead serious with facts and figures and is not easily enticed or attracted by legends and romantic tales.
Over the years of my married life, what I have discovered is that love entails sacrifice and commitment, that relationships should be built on trust and responsibility. True love is not celebrated in a day but is developed and maintained daily. I may not bring “The Ilocana” (that is a term of endearment assigned to my wife of more than three decades), flowers, and candies and chocolates but I still will celebrate the day with her not necessarily in a fine restaurant or hotel but probably in the quiet privacy of our home.
The sacrifice and the responsibility factors are still there but the romance has been kept over the years through the responsible handling of the relationship.
No… it’s not martyrdom at all and it is actually romantic the moment one stops thinking, “what would benefit the self” but starts embarking on a journey of true love and sacrifice. I guess, that is what Valentine’s Day should be all about. But then again, what do I know? Good to go back to that quote that says: “Sure, you can give without loving, but isn’t it a fact that you cannot love without giving?” And what about that verse that says…And God so love the world that He gave…?” Something to think about.
(Attend this leadership conference as Francis Kong teams up with Ken Blachard and John Maxwell’s accredited industry practitioners Gina Cruz and Marj Villanueva in an afternoon learning event entitled: “LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE-THE WINNING EDGE! March 2, 2018 at CITY CLUB at Alphaland Makati. For registration and inquiries contact Jacque at 0999 7283971 or Mary at 0917 8173736 or call Inspire-UN Leadership Consultancy Inc. 777 6038)