Anti Valentine's Day

Yesterday was Valentine's Day (or Vday as I affectionally call it - for no other war-punned inferences or reason than it naturally makes sense), and beyond the Hallmark-hyped event, it is centered around Love. No, I'm not anti Valentine's Day, despite my historical anti-climactic happenings on Feb 14. Other than a few naive and youthful experiences, I'd never really had part in Valentine's Day. Rather, I only enjoy knowing when it is every year, because my birthday (and my dad's birthday) always follows exactly two weeks later. So, to my anti-Valentine's Day (which will be better framed as "What Love is Not").

Love does not buy gifts or perform acts of service out of obligation.

Love does not make itself known just to be heard.

Love does not beg a reciprocated response to be fulfilled.

Love does not often show its face explicitly, but rather remains hidden but felt.

Love is not a matter of words but a matter of expression, whether spoken words are attached or not.

Love is not the most pure in its loudest form.

Love is not rational but is pure in its complexities.

Love is not a shoulder to be cried upon for self attainment.

Love is not just affection in the most happy of times but is also a hand held in the worst of times.

Love is not apologizing for apologetic sake but love is correcting without being asked.

Love is not a perfect Van Gogh painting but the perfection of colors and shapes seen in the mountain skies.

Love is not pink and red and white but love is green and red, blue and orange, yellow and violet.

Love is not what is received but what is given.

Love is not a reflection from ourselves but a redirection from God.

Love is not just a dozen roses but a clean kitchen or folded laundry.

Love does not impose what it wants but requests how it should be expressed without asking.

Love is not just a walk on the beach but often just an improv walk under falling snow and streetlights.

Love is not self-reflecting but others impacting.

Love is not what is always said but often what is not said.

Love does not worry about comfort if someone else is lifted up.

Love does not lay low in a crowd but stands tall for the benefit of the recipient.

Love is not finite but is as infinite as one lets.

Love is not held on by one but is always shared with two.

Love is not a completion but a sum greater than the whole.

Love is not one of the greatest qualities of life, but love is THE most important attribute in all of life.

Some would say I'm so anti-Valentine's Day. Even though I've never known romantic love with a significant other, I've seen what love is and what love is not. For what it's worth, this is my humble opinion on what love is not.