It's Valentine; Celebrate love
Ghanaians are joining the rest of the world to celebrate Valentine’s Day, a popular festive occasion, second only to Christmas.
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Valentine is a celebration of love. The irony is the origin of valentine is not clear. For some, it is about birds who were seen flying in pairs in mid-February. For others, it is about an ancient festival of fertility when people met and selected future partners.
Some also see Valentine as a celebration in memory of a priest who was killed for his kind acts.
The concept of love also defies human understanding. We behave like visually-challenged people and describe love by our culture, age, faith and life experiences. However a simple way to see love is simply by the sacrifices you make to improve yourself, your lover and relationship.
How to celebrate Valentine
Celebrate yourself
You are the most important person in your life. You need to see yourself as good before you can celebrate others. Feel good. Create an aura of success around you. Dress in what makes you feel good. Your positive outlook will positively affect you and your relationship. Pamper yourself.
Renew your commitment
Resolve to make your relationship work no matter what. Commitment builds trust, honesty, faithfulness and dependability. Studies show partners in committed relationships are happier than those who are not.
Send gifts
They are a sign of love and goodwill. They make your lover feel loved and cherished. He or she feels motivated to do more for you.
Let your gift be simple – chocolates, flowers and cards which have words of motivation, affection and appreciation.
The greatest gift you can give is to offer yourself as a living sacrifice for your lover and do all it takes to build him or her up holistically.
Resolve to forgive unconditionally
It is impossible to be in a relationship without conflict but you can grow your relationship through them by the first step of forgiveness because it frees you to love again.
Always remember that anytime you forgive you are the only one who benefits because it is a divine cure.
Pope John Paul describes forgiveness as a restoration to freedom of oneself. Use this occasion to forgive unconditionally, your lover or anyone who has hurt you.
Its Valentine; celebrate love.
A relationship is the most important human investment. Studies show partners in good relationships are happier, healthier and wealthier than those who are not. They also live longer.
It is therefore appropriate you celebrate valentine that thanks your Maker for the gift of love.
You must, however, appreciate love is not the same as sex and lust. Valentine is therefore not the time to break your virginity or ‘sample’ sex in orgies which could predispose you to unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. Few moments of fun can unmake you for life.
Valentine is also not a time for unrealistic demands, substance abuse, inappropriate dressing, profane songs and wild celebrations deep into the night.
Celebrate valentine to show you love and care. Be imaginative, thoughtful and reflective as you celebrate the love you share. Celebrate yourself, your lover and your relationship.
Anything you do not celebrate exits your life. On the other hard, anything you celebrate grows in health.
Celebrate Valentine, but be a model of true love. Do this on Valentine Day, and always.
Email: [email protected].
The writer is the Director of Eudoo Counselling Centre, West Legon. He is also the author of ‘Your guide to Marriage’ ‘Love Unlimited’ and ‘The journey of love’