My conversation with one of my best friends, VB, reminded me why I never bought into the whole Valentine’s Day nonsense. As VB puts it, February 14th is the “Most Useless Holiday Ever”…chocolate makes you fat, the heart doesn’t look like a heart (he’s PreMed, if that didn’t give it away), flowers die in a couple of days and diamonds lead to little kids dying in Africa.
I agree (not so much with the little kids in Africa part). In its origin, Valentine’s Day (El Dia de San Valentin) was established by Pope Gelasius I, in 496AD, to honor one (or more) Christian martyr, Saint Valentine. There was never any love or romantic element associated with this day until about the 14th Century, when people forgot the actual purpose of the holiday.
If you love someone, you don’t need a specific day to tell him/her that you do. Everyday should be Valentine’s Day. And it shouldn’t only be a day to profess your love to a significant other, but to reiterate your love for parents, siblings, distant relatives, friends, and those who may have been part of your life for a short time for a certain purpose (as shown in the picture below with some of my beloved friends).
So my lovely readers, I leave you with one of my favorite love letters written by Beethoven. The letter was never addressed to anybody but historians feel he wrote it for a married woman who he loved dearly (to remind the VB’s of the world the meaning of true love).
Though still in bed, my thoughts go out to you, my Immortal Beloved, now and then joyfully, then sadly, waiting to learn whether or not fate will hear us - I can live only wholly with you or not at all.
Yes, I am resolved to wander so long away from you until I can fly to your arms and say that I am really at home with you, and can send my soul enwrapped in you into the land of spirits - Yes, unhappily it must be so - You will be the more contained since you know my fidelity to you.
No one else can ever possess my heart - never - never - Oh God, why must one be parted from one whom one so loves. And yet my life in V is now a wretched life - Your love makes me at once the happiest and the unhappiest of men. At my age I need a steady, quiet life - can that be so in our connection?
My angel, I have just been told that the mailcoach goes every day - therefore I must close at once so that you may receive the letter at once - Be calm, only by a calm consideration of our existence can we achieve our purpose to live together.
Be calm - love me - today - yesterday - what tearful longings for you - you - you - my life - my all - farewell. Oh continue to love me - never misjudge the most faithful heart of your beloved.
Ever thine,
Ever mine,
Ever ours.
Yes, I am resolved to wander so long away from you until I can fly to your arms and say that I am really at home with you, and can send my soul enwrapped in you into the land of spirits - Yes, unhappily it must be so - You will be the more contained since you know my fidelity to you.
No one else can ever possess my heart - never - never - Oh God, why must one be parted from one whom one so loves. And yet my life in V is now a wretched life - Your love makes me at once the happiest and the unhappiest of men. At my age I need a steady, quiet life - can that be so in our connection?
My angel, I have just been told that the mailcoach goes every day - therefore I must close at once so that you may receive the letter at once - Be calm, only by a calm consideration of our existence can we achieve our purpose to live together.
Be calm - love me - today - yesterday - what tearful longings for you - you - you - my life - my all - farewell. Oh continue to love me - never misjudge the most faithful heart of your beloved.
Ever thine,
Ever mine,
Ever ours.
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