Not your Valentine, but better
Not From Your Valentine, But Better
Love is easily one of the most complicated concepts ever known to man. It is very possible to die without fully grasping the meaning behind this crimson conundrum. It gets worse when, a couple of years into your existence, you discover that a specific day has been earmarked for its expression; many more years after that and you discover that it isn't exactly a bed of roses. Pun intended.
Chilling on my bed as I pen this down, with the beautiful Twitter keeping me company, it is amusing to find out some people still carry this thing on their head. I used to, but those days are over...for now, at least. If love is as deep as people say it is, anyday can be Valentine's Day. Everyday can be Valentine's Day. I know that sounds weird, but love need not be exorbitant. Yes, lady, no be love you go chop. But still, mans cannot be tearing pocket for you anyhow. Love is broad and it does not have to be strictly romantic. You can show love to your guys, your girlfriends, your parents and your family in general. Love does not have to be strctly erotic or sexual. But if you insist, Novembers are always free for me so I can make time out for a couple of naming ceremonies. Kindly hit it raw today.
Permit me to reiterate that love need not be exorbitant. Like a good friend of mine (actually, we dated some years ago and I gave her the most uncreative Val gift) said last week, Valentine is a scam. I subscribe to that partly. It can be a scam, but it should not be. A certain movie house on Lagos Mainland is inviting lovers and free agents alike to come view the highly-anticipated Black Panther for the beautiful price of four thousand Naira. Think of the random broke guy in Ebute Metta (not you Banky) whose girlfriend will ignore him for a week due to his inability to fulfill this obligation. If I were that guy, I wouldn't even kill myself. There are so many Vals Day hacks and one article should not even contain them all.
Moving on from the exorbitant aspect, one is faced with the reality that the definition of love has changed. I am a big fan of the old ways, and the reality that this beautiful concept I grew up watching in movies and listening to in Celine Dion and R-Kelly songs has become a different ball game entirely is slightly depressing. Do we really love anymore? Or do we practise something else entirely and call it love? This sounds religious, but does our love bear, believe, hope and endure? A great many may read this and say I am spewing bants, but then, those are the questions. Yes, we have loved and gotten hurt and have resolved never to go soft or to let out guard down again. We have been nice and people have taken advantage. Our sacrifices for our families and friends have not been acknowledged or appreciated. There are lessons to be learnt, but these experiences do not have not turn us into monsters. We can start from today by showing it to those who really need and deserve it. And we will get it back.
Show some love today. Appreciate the real ones who really matter. Make that phone call, like I am about to. Buy that little gift, or buy nothing at all. If you have someone, make your time together unforgettable, starting from today. And if you do not, like me, well...we'll just have to drink water and thank God for the most precious gifts ever.
Anyday can be Valentine's Day. Everyday can be
Valentine's Day. Ignore the hype.
Durueke Clinton C.