Valentine's Day

 

by Maggie Mazza, Communications Intern, Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Valentine’s Day is equally the most hated and the most loved holiday that we celebrate. People associate Valentine’s Day mostly with being in a relationship, but it should be about much more than just that. Just like on Thanksgiving people only seem thankful for everything they have once a year; well we should be loved and feel loved more than once a year too.

I know that Valentine’s Day correlates to the relationship that you currently are in. But just take a look at your past relationships- and look at where you are today. You never would have been where you are today, if it wasn’t for what you had done in the past. So, leave the pieces on the floor and move on. Some things just aren’t meant to be put back together. Everything happens for a reason- in my opinion, and if I made mistakes in the past, that only means I will learn from them in the future. Relationships are just stepping-stones to becoming the best person you can be. Past break-ups and fights seemed like the end of the world- but can you even remember them today? We should never regret or get mad at ourselves for things that had happened in the past, we should take those mistakes and teach ourselves to not make them again in our present relationships. Whether you’re in a relationship with a loved one, friend, family or even just yourself- learn to appreciate. I think appreciation is something that lacks in relationships these days. We don’t say thank you enough, or we don’t remind ourselves how lucky we are. Appreciate what you have and who you have in your life.

Love yourself. Treat yourself with chocolate, or that item in the store you’ve had your eye on - remind yourself that you have everything, and things could always be worse. In the GA twelve steps to recovery, step 10 says, “Changing ‘Love of self’, a fantasy, to ‘Self-love’, a reality.” This simply means: don’t love yourself because of the clothes you wear and the money you have; love your personality and your soul. You are the only person that can make yourself be who you want to be, and you’re stuck with yourself for your whole life, so be the best you can be. Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be about someone else, so, make it a day about loving yourself. However, if you are in a happy, healthy relationship- appreciate it! Life is precious and we should appreciate all life has given to us.

Valentine’s Day is a good day for random acts of kindness. Hold the door for someone, let a pedestrian cross the street, buy the morning round of coffee, tell someone they are beautiful. Not only will this make someone else’s day, but it will make yours as well. Be kind to others, you never know what someone is going through from the outside. So, before you yell at the lady working at the coffee shop for making the wrong order, think about if they are having a bad day too.

A few years back, I heard a story on the radio about a day that turned into the biggest ‘random act of kindness day’. At a drive through coffee shop, the person paying for their coffee also said they wanted to pay for the person behind them, without knowing who they were. When that person arrived at the window, they had been informed that a random person had paid for their coffee. That person then paid for the person behind them, and this went on the entire day. This random act put a smile on my face and reminded me that there aren’t only bad things happening in the world, but wonderful kind things as well.  

 

All it takes is a simple thought to turn your day or someone else’s day around and spread love – especially on a day like Valentine’s Day.