Valentine's Day - by Design

I’ve already written about the time I designed my own Valentine’s Day back when I was single, and my friend and I exchanged cards, acknowledged each other, had dinner and made it our own. And another time, I went with my friend, Jason, and we saw Aretha Franklin in concert. I requested that we also exchange cards (Jason and I, not Aretha) and to my surprise, he also brought one of those Rite Aid heart-shaped boxes of chocolates that we shared. I was single, but like the other time with my friend, I got a night out, a card, chocolates and felt acknowledged and loved. This confirms once again my quest to design my life, including my holidays.

Many of us love the holidays. But then one creeps around like Christmas after a breakup, New Year’s when you have no plans, Halloween when you’ve eaten all the candy yourself, Arbor Day when you live in the city, or Valentine’s Day when single. Now sometimes, you say, “I don’t care” and rent a movie, but are afraid that people will ask, “What didja do on X Day?” And you have to make it sound good. But what if you closed your eyes, took a breath and thought: “How do I want to spend this day?” “What would I create?” “What would make it perfect?” Whether you wanted to do something big or not.

This Valentine’s Day weekend I am taking my happy self to my friend’s “Flirt For a Cause” event, where she is mixing single people up for charity. I will be a rented “wing man” or “wing woman.” People who like someone will rent me and send me over where I will talk them up and try to connect them. There is a fear in me that I will have to wear wings or Depends or something, but I’d do anything for charity- or a good Facebook post.

The point is, I will have a blast, it has to do with love and romance, and I will be doing what I love the most- making people happy. That’s the Valentine’s Day I’m designing for myself. And my question for you is- whether your single or not, because you may also put a lot of pressure on yourself to “get it right and make your partner happy” – what would you like to do? Instead of celebrating holidays, celebrate yourself – on the holidays.

Gotta go get into my diaper….