L is for . . .

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again; I’m an incurable optimist, an unabashed romantic.  It’s a push back, I think, from the fact that my dad was such a cynic and pessimist.  This is true despite, or maybe because, of the experiences of the past couple years.  But more on that in a minute.

So here we are on the one day of the year where we celebrate love, celebrate the “us-ness” of life.  While I am certainly sad to no longer be a part of an “us,” I refuse to let that sadness turn in to bitterness at the happiness of others.  I find it a bit infantile when people push against Valentines and use their singleness as a reason to attack others’ happiness.  Why not be happy for them?  I get that it’s hard to see others happy when you aren’t, or that they have something you don’t.  Trust me, I am acutely aware of that, especially this year.  I just refuse to let my own pain become a reason that I can’t celebrate for others.

On the other hand, I get a little sad when I hear coupled people say that Valentine’s is just another day and we should show love all year ’round.  While I absolutely agree with that statement (and the same is true for what other major holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas stand for), why can’t we take a day to be particularly romantic and celebrate each other?  We do that on birthdays.  We say that this is a special day for them when the argument could be made that we should celebrate their existence every day of the year (which, again, is true).  I say take the day and go overboard!

I am, unfortunately, a cautionary tale. I let that part of me that is romantic and wants to go overboard die, or at least atrophy.  I stopped doing those things that, in my heart, I love to do.  I was afraid.  I was afraid that I would be rejected or laughed at, when the truth was even a few more little gestures could have changed the course of my life.  While I can’t go back, I can and have learned from that.  I won’t ever be perfect, but I will love robustly.  I will love earnestly and passionately.  I will make the big and small gestures that shows that woman I love (when I find her) that she is the most important person in my life.

So I guess the caution to all you couples out there is to go big!  Be jackasses (to quote Serendipity)!  Even though you hopefully show him/her that you love them every day, celebrate today!  Celebrate being together! Celebrate the life you live and share with one another!

To the rest of you singles out there, relax 🙂 Don’t be bitter.  Be happy for where you are and what you have.  Don’t hate on those who have someone.  All that is going to do is increase the bitterness and become a cancer inside of you.

In other news, I am 14 days through the challenge and have kept it updated here.  I also bit the bullet and signed up for both the Cowtown Half Marathon and the Rock and Roll Dallas Half Marathon.  I will already be doing long runs those days, so I thought why not get a medal and a shirt for it 🙂 And finally, I had a slip from UPS on my door when I got home from Crossfit tonight so I think my shoes might finally be here!  I sure hope so.  I’m patient, but man it’s been hard staying that way 🙂

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!