Valentine’s Day has become the universal day to celebrate romantic love. Many people are not likely aware that this day celebrates the martyrdom of one or more early Christian saints by the name of Valentinus. The most popular story says that he was imprisoned and then executed for performing weddings for soldiers who were forbidden to marry as well as for ministering to Christians. Married soldiers in love would have probably been perceived to be a risk for the war machine of the day and Christians were persecuted throughout the Roman Empire.
The holiday was first associated with romantic love in the high-middle ages around the time of Geoffrey Chaucer with the advancement of courtly love. Lovers expressed their love for one another by sending flowers, candy and cards that were hand written.
Valentine’s Day is a day to celebrate love, and my sister reminded me that it should be celebrated every day. Don’t wait for a special day to say, “I love you,” say it every day!
Still, Valentine’s Day is a special day; the day we tell our loved ones how much we love them by card, by gift and by deed. So what are you supposed to do for your Internet dating people? It all depends on how far you have advanced in the relationship.
If you are just at the email stage or talking on the phone, it would be nice to wish this person a Happy Valentine’s Day with no mention of feelings and certainly nothing about love. If you do want to send an e-card, that, too, is okay, as long as it doesn’t go anywhere beyond where your relationship stands at the moment. If you are just doing the email/phone thing, good wishes are all you need unless you have progressed to phone sex which is unlikely unless you are on datingperverts.com.
If you are actually dating, the same rules apply: send a message with the appropriated message based on how far you have come in the relationship. If you already professed your love, then the card can do the same. If you have gone on a couple of dates and not even progressed to making out, then you keep the message simple and about how you are so glad that you have met each other.
If you are dating and in a true physical relationship (that means having sex) you have to be careful what you want to convey. If you are in love with each other and no one has actually said it, this may be a good time to say it within reason. Don’t get too mushy in case they don’t feel that way, too.
Relationships are all about the game of love whether you like it or not, and it is actually a good game as long as no one plays “head games” that can be cruel. Yes, we do have to be careful with our emotions and those of others. No one wants to get hurt in a relationship, feel used or discarded. It is up to each of us to be truthful and courteous.
It is Valentine’s Day, so go out and tell someone how much you love them and care, just make sure it’s the right person and for the right reasons.
Love to all of my readers! Happy Valentine’s Day!
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