Life has been heavy!
Taking a little load off today!
Love is very important to me: Love is literally what gets me up in the morning and keeps me going throughout the day.
Without love, I’d be an NPC: mechanically living without purpose or joy. However, the Greeks identified many types of love:
(FROM GEMINI)
The Ancient Greeks defined various forms of love, with the three most prominent types often cited as Eros (romantic/passionate love), Philia (deep friendship/affection), and Agape (unconditional/selfless love). These distinctions highlight that love is not a single emotion but a range of feelings, including familial bonds (Storge), playfulness (Ludus), and self-love (Philautia).
In the Western world, particularly, the USA where most of us live, holidays can mainly exert pressure: Pressure to gift, pressure to gather, pressure to conform. I feel like I am so fortunate that I have the ability, and the community, where I can express love in some of its various forms on a daily basis (as she snuggles next to me, what is love for a puppy called?)
Lucy Lu
Like many of our modern holidays, St. Val’s Day has pagan roots!
Origins of Valentine’s Day:
(FROM GEMINI)
St. Valentine's Day originated from a blend of ancient Roman fertility rituals (Lupercalia) in mid-February and Christian efforts to commemorate martyred saints named Valentine around A.D. 270. It evolved from a violent pagan festival into a romantic celebration during the Middle Ages, popularized by poets like Geoffrey Chaucer, and became a commercialized, card-giving holiday by the 19th century.
To lighten our loads in a heavy time, I scoured the interwebs for some Val Day memes for us!
Just kidding, I don’t eat cupcakes!
And, finally:
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When I realised that only a tiny fraction of the population is on my wavelength and that having a partner who doesn't get it (not just "me"- it) is a complete non-runner, it took a lot of complication out of my life, and a great sense of relief.
I have no interest in a romantic relationship with anyone who doesn't get it- While it would be great to meet someone who does, I console myself with the wonderful thought that I'm not weighed down by a bad relationship. Don't worry about Valentines. Seriously. Have a nice day for yourself. Valentine wishes from a kindred spirit.
I'm not sure it's appropriate to ask "Will you be my Valentine?"
So instead I pledge to eat any cupcakes I might come across today so you don't have to. 💌 💘 🧁