Re‑imagining Valentine’s Day
I’m not sure if things have really changed, or if it’s just my point of view, but I have watched Valentine’s Day swell into a grand, commercial mythology, a holiday that promises fireworks of romance while quietly demanding our wallets to open wider. It isn’t a brand‑new invention; the ritual of gifting roses and chocolates stretches back decades, if not centuries. Yet, twenty‑five or thirty years ago, when my children were still young enough to absorb the world without the filter of market‑made romance, I felt a tug of responsibility. Why should tender‑hearted youngsters be inundated with a glossy, consumer‑driven vision of “romantic love”?
So we rewrote the script.
Instead of letting Valentine’s Day become a one‑night extravaganza of pricey dinners and glittering cards, we transformed it into a day for healthy, expansive love, the love we extend to family, friends, neighbors, and even ourselves. In my mind, the holiday shifted from a narrow focus on romance to a broader canvas where affection could be painted in many colors.
I have often found myself attracted to the imagery of the human heart.
Inviting Creativity
From the moment we decided to honor the day differently, I invited my kids into the act of making love visible. We began with simple red paper hearts and delicate doilies, crayons and glue. In later years, the table was strewn with torn‑paper collages, each fragment a whispered promise, each layer a soft echo of the next. The act of cutting, arranging, and gluing became a quiet meditation—a way for small hands to translate feeling into form. I have always believed that art is a conversation between soul and surface, and in those moments the conversation was unmistakably ours.
Quieter Celebrations
After more than four decades of marriage, the notion of “romantic love” has settled into something richer, more enduring. It is no longer the flutter of first‑date butterflies but the quiet, steadfast promise to walk beside one another through sickness and health, joy and sorrow. That depth, I’ve learned, is far more valuable than any fleeting Valentine’s sparkle.
When my husband and I grew weary of splurging on a single, extravagant dinner, we turned the tradition on its head. Our new Valentine’s centerpiece became a shared culinary adventure: cioppino, the hearty Italian seafood stew that can cost a fortune in a restaurant. Instead of paying for a single plate, we head to the market, gather fresh fish, an excellent jar sauce, a bottle of wine, and crusty bread. Together we simmer the broth, letting the kitchen fill with the briny perfume of the sea, a scent that drifts through the house, welcomed even by our dog, who cares little for romance but loves the lingering aroma of a home‑cooked meal.
The result? Not only do we enjoy a delicious feast, but we also create leftovers that sustain us for days, turning a single celebration into a lasting reminder of love’s generosity.
A Call to Rethink Valentine’s Day
What if we all approached Valentine’s Day as a chance to craft something meaningful together, rather than to purchase something costly? Imagine families gathering around a stove, friends sharing a handmade gift, or neighbors swapping handwritten notes of gratitude. These gestures, rooted in creativity and effort, echo louder than any boxed chocolate.
I invite you to pause and ask yourself: How can I express love to the people who matter most?
Perhaps it’s a collaborative recipe, a collage of memories, or a simple walk where you listen deeply to each other’s stories. Whatever form it takes, let it be authentic, hands‑on, and shared, because love, at its core, thrives when we give it space to breathe and grow.
Click the image to see what small hearts I have available.
Valentine’s Day need not be a commercial checkpoint. It can be a canvas for everyday love, painted with the colors of our lives, seasoned with intention, and savored long after the last bite of cioppino. That being said, I have on occasion found myself creating heart themed artworks, remembering those times when my children were small, and so have some appropriate mementos to celebrate the love in your life.
