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After doing a little dip into Wikipedia’s Valentine’s Day entry, I recently learned the history of the holiday: What originally was a day of feasting in honor of Saint Valentine has, over the centuries, morphed into a day to make single people of all religions and cultures feel terrible about themselves. Those of us in relationships do not necessarily skate by unscathed. No, we wilt through January and half of February under the weight of expectation and responsibility. One day a year to prove our love, devotion, brilliance, and originality. No matter, single or coupled up, we all lose. Or, we could all win…
You see—according to my therapist and a handful of self-help books—there is no limit to how much love one has to give. Love is not a pie, but in fact Willy Wonka’s Everlasting Gobstopper. You also don't even have to like someone to love them, or so they say. I’m still a bit resistant to that one, however, I am trying to honor Biggie and “spread love.” After all, “it’s the Brooklyn way.”
At this moment in time my son is writing his Valentine’s for everyone in his class, and as much as he’d rather be playing video games, he is enjoying himself. Even at 8, he knows how happy small acts like these can make others feel. So, this year I am going to make Valentine cards for family, co-workers, Uber drivers, friends, and strangers and pass them out. I also just bought some ready-to-bake Pillsbury cookies with pink and red hearts in the center that I can’t wait to make, eat, and—who knows—maybe even give some away. I’ll play that one by ear.
Maybe I sound unhinged, but maybe you feel the same? I bet every Valentine you hand out makes you smile, and those things are contagious, so why not? Or don’t: Wear black head to toe and curse all the happy people in all the ways you know how. Whatever makes you happy, do that.
Now, I can’t tell you what exactly I’m going to do for my Valentine this year because that will ruin the surprise—aka hopefully, by the time you read this, I will have thought of something wildly romantic—but my favorite Valentine I ever received was a Cipriani Vanilla Meringue cake. At the time I was DJing out of town, so it was delivered to my mother’s apartment. An entire cake just for me—that’s when I knew they were the one! This year I will be baking one for myself, because what’s more important than self-love and sugar? Make sure to check out my Instagram Stories on the big day to see how it turns out. And if you choose to hand out Valentines to strangers, let me know how that goes and be safe!
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