Crazy Stupid Love.

I almost can't handle it sometimes.

Photo Credit: Hannah Harrison.

"And this maiden she lived with no other thought
Than to love and be loved by me.
I was a child and she was a child,
In this kingdom by the sea;
But we loved with a love that was more than love-
I and my Annabel Lee;
With a love that the winged seraphs of heaven
Coveted her and me."
  - Edgar Allan Poe

To love and be loved. That is all any human being ever wants out of living. I am notoriously known for being the Scrooge of Valentine's day. But my discontent isn't the lack of love in my life, or the lack of reciprocation of that love on my part. It is the altered and fabricated love created on this day. It is like people have to shower their love on other people on Valentine's Day because they are supposed to, or because they are expeceted to. But, shouldn't that be expected all day, every day? And not just blown out of proportion one day a year?

All I have to to say is: Love is crazy, and love is stupid. Crazy. Stupid. Love.

And what rattles my bones even more is the fact that in a majority of the relationships, that are celebrated on this petty Hallmark holiday, is the need to portray their so-called love through physical things. Gifts. Presents. Tokens of love. Whatever you want to call them--They're dumb.

Honestly, in my opinion--even if I did have a true Valentine--I don't think a Texas-sized teddy bear and two dozen roses would accurately represent my relationship with another human being. I'd rather my day be filled with memories, a smile or too, and a thought that goes much deeper than "What can I get my girlfriend for under $30 at Hallmark?"

Call me Scrooge, but this whole Valentines Day thing seems a little overrated. At least in the way that it is expected to be celebrated nowadays.

I made cards today. And I honestly believe there was more love put into those cards than all of the relationships on this campus combined. (Okay, maybe not, but you get the point I am trying to make). But do you know why? Because these cards were made by a group of college-aged girls for a group of retired senior citizens in a nursing home.

It may just like sound cliché service project to you, but there is beauty in showing unexpected love. Those ladies and gentlemen in the nursing home don't expect much on Valentine's Day, especially because many of their partners and loved ones have already passed. But, getting a small, beautiful card from a twenty-something year old girls says "Hey, someone loves you."

It's small. It's unexpected. It's thoughtful. Which is much more meaningful to me than the largest bar of chocolate, the most expensive bouquet of roses, and a the cuddliest teddy bear in the world.