V Day <3

Valentine's Day. A day designated to celebrate LOVE. Especially love in the terms of romance, or as C.S. Lewis explains in The Four Loves, Eros. For those who are unfamiliar with this concept, C.S. Lewis basically divides love into four categories, based in part on the four Greek words for love: storge (affection), philia (friendship), eros (erotic love), and charity (God's love).

I saw so many roses and chocolates this weekend. I felt a couple things that may or may not contradict each other. One, I was happy that people had someone to give these gifts to. I think it's always heartwarming to see people having someone to go to, give gifts to, to turn to, to love and appreciate. We are all creatures who crave to love and be loved. So it is in a sense a very natural thing and I think that's why I like seeing its presence.

Two, I was wondering how much money the flower and chocolate and greeting card industry must be making off of this one day. I have 3 roommates currently and all of them are in serious relationships. Our living room currently looks like Saint Valentine just threw up in it. Seriously. Why don't they keep the roses and chocolates in their rooms? There's a pink balloon too, but that's not from a boyfriend. In any case, it's hilarious.

I'm not bitter or anything (I think haha), but I just find it sort of funny when everyone's doing the same thing. What happened to originality? Or maybe it's the fact that most people are missing the real point of the day--practicing love and courtship and writing personal handwritten love notes for one another in a more private, sacred manner, and not about buying chocolates and flowers and showing it off to the world and then calling it a day. Ok, so maybe I'm just a hopeless romantic at heart despite all the stuff I went through. But it just doesn't seem real, in a way.

I asked couple of my friends today if they know what love is--in the terms of eros that is. And I think it's interesting to hear people's answers. What about you? Could you say you experienced love? If so, how did it change you?

I think I can say that I have. How did it change me? I learned a lot about myself, my weaknesses and strengths. I also learned for the first time what sacrifice even meant. I also learned what to do and more importantly, what not to do in my next relationship. And last but definitely not least, I learned how to appreciate people. They say it's better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all. I can now say I agree. Not simply because I have irreplaceable memories I can hold onto, but because I gained so much insight through it. Without losing someone, you just simply don't know how to appreciate someone when they do come along. You always take them for granted when they're there and you also dangerously assume that they will always be there.

I think I will always have hope. Because to be honest, a world without love, all four kinds, is depriving and simply meaningless. And I'm the type of person that needs meaning in life. Otherwise, what's the point?