Hallmark card holiday called – Valentine’s Day.

by Jackie Klapak

So, February is here. Aside from it being the month of my seventeenth birthday (February 11th, for those of you keeping track), it is the month of that Hallmark card holiday called – Valentine’s Day.  

          This is a holiday that boggles people. Some people get too wrapped up in it, some people think it’s utterly pointless, and some people never quite know what to do about it.  

I’d like to address readers in that third category, the people who have trouble with figuring out what to do on Valentine’s Day.    

Relationships are very different between each couple. Since relationships are so vastly different, this means that buying gifts and all preparations for Valentine’s Day (or any event, for that matter) should definitely be catered to the couple.    

I was talking with my friends before writing this article. What comprises a good, healthy relationship? After much debate and discussion, we concluded that the most important thing to do in a relationship is to “listen” to the other person.     

The greatest human need is to be understood, and many people do not fully achieve this in a relationship, even if they’re married. Communication is definitely the key. It is important to be open with each other, because no one can go through life alone, at least not a good life. When people are in a relationship, listening to one another is the best they can possibly do to each other. It truly manifests a deep love on a very humanistic level. Think of how profound a human meets and fulfills another human’s needs just by showing that he or she cares and understands. That means the world.     

          What does this have to do with Valentine’s plans? By listening to your significant other, you will learn his or her likes and dislikes, and you can plan accordingly. By having this information, you can obtain a pretty good idea of how he or she would want to spend his or her time. By doing something you know the other person likes, you accomplish three things.     

First and foremost, your other half will likely enjoy the present/activity and be happy overall.    

Secondly, you subtly prove to your sweetie how much you do listen to him or her.  It shows that you are a genuine, caring, sincere person and that your honey’s feelings really matter to you.     

Lastly (and this ties in along with the previous two), you make yourself look good. You come out smelling like a rose because not only did you get a great gift or make swell plans, you have displayed a far deeper sense of love and security that a thoughtless and easy gift or generic card would have.     

Ditch the darn box of chocolates that will fatten your darling up, or those roses (such a cliché!) that will die soon anyway, for something heartfelt that you know will be appreciated.     

Homemade gifts are always neat—use your talents to paint a picture, to write a song or poem, or to make a fancy dinner for your loved one.  If you don’t have the time or the creativity, opt for buying a gift that you know they’ll like. (For example, if your guy/gal likes AC/DC and you hate them, show them you care by getting a CD of this group—though I can’t imagine anyone NOT liking AC/DC!)

      The possibilities are really endless, and there’s no such excuse as – “We’ve been together for too long and we’re bored with everything and don’t need anything,” or “We barely know each other.”  In either case, get to it!  There’s always room for improvement and new things, in the first situation. And in the second situation, what are you waiting for?    

If you’re not in a relationship this Valentine’s Day, don’t fret—it’s one less thing you have to worry about. Stay cool and spend a day with yourself or a group of friends. The best Valentine’s Day that I ever had was spent by eating pizza with a small and tight group of friends. It was amazingly fun.    

If you are involved in a relationship, enjoy yourself—you only live once, and no one ever knows what tomorrow will bring. Never take anything for granted.      

Relationships are so unique to each couple, and situations are always different. Always go with what your gut says, not what anyone else thinks or says. Stand up for what you believe in. If your relationship seems unorthodox but you enjoy it, celebrate it, because it is no one else’s position to judge you or how you go about doing things in life. Acquiescing to others’ ideas only weakens you. Seize the moment, and if you’ve found what you’re looking for, hold on tightly. Stuff like that happens only once in a lifetime—if you’re lucky. 

THIS TEEN TURNS ON...     

This month I “turned on to”...  The Rolling Stones Singles Collection: The London Years. WOW! There wasn’t a song I didn’t like on the whole three-CD set! No wonder The Stones are so popular, even to this day!     

This is a perfect introduction to Rolling Stones music, or even to classic rock. It’s definitely a set to check out. Almost everyone is familiar with “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” or “Get Off My Cloud,” but how many people know “Memo from Turner” or “As Tears Go By”?  

My absolute favorite song was the very last one, “Sympathy for the Devil.” I’m sure many of you are familiar with it, but if not, definitely give it a spin. That song incorporated many historical events and took on a very cynical and sarcastic look about them, in a good way, if that’s possible. Only the Stones can achieve that. 

I just loved this set all-around. Not only can a listener understand why and how they were so revolutionary, he or she can actually feel the excitement and passion in the music.  

For next month, I’m going to check out something a little bit more current – How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb – the latest from U2.  

Stay tuned, and have a happy Valentine’s Day!    

Until next month, keep warm and snuggly people. And remember even columnist need luv, so drop me a Valentine’s Day e-mail at: Jackie@midwestbeat.com

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