Odd
View of Valentine’s Day from a Romance Author
Just because I write contemporary romance novels, people expect me to love Valentine’s Day. Well, if you’re one of those people, here’s a news flash. I don’t. And here’s why.
Life is short and, at best, unpredictable. So, if you love
someone, tell them. Not because it’s a national (fake) holiday, but because YOU
LOVE THEM! Life doesn’t come with guarantees, people. Having spent a huge chunk
of my professional life in emergency departments, I can tell you this with a
degree of authority. The only thing we have is this moment. This heartbeat. The
rest is what we hope for. Long for. Make plans for. As Woody Allen once said,
“If you want to make God laugh, tell Him about your plans.”
I love to remind my husband how low-maintenance I am (LOL).
Please don’t buy me overpriced roses on Valentine’s Day because you’ll feel
guilty if you don’t. First, I'm not a huge fan of roses. They’re an obvious and
unoriginal choice. Second, knowing how much you spent will not impress me. Want
to remind me how smart I was for picking you? Give me flowers on a Tuesday.
Just because. That will make me happy and fall in love with you all over again.
Don’t get me started about going out for dinner that night. I'm probably
working anyway…
Another thing I don’t like (read HATE) about Valentine’s Day
is the pressure it puts on single women (and possibly men but I wouldn’t dare
to speak for them). The takeaway message is if you don’t have a date, then
you’re somehow less worthy. Really? So you might be a doctor or teacher or
graduate student or the very brave woman who drove my kids to school this
morning, but if you happen to be home alone on V-Day you’re less of a woman?
Absolutely NOT! Since when does our worth come from our relationship status,
especially on one day out of the entire year?
Here's the bottom line as I see it. Valentine’s Day is all
about the marketing. If Groundhog Day had better marketing, we’d all have
stuffed groundhogs in our homes. Well, I do, but it’s my dog’s favorite toy. If
you love someone, tell them. If you’re single, don’t sweat it. And don’t settle
just because of the date on the calendar. Love comes when you least expect it.
Trust me, it did for me....
Would you like to meet Kimberly O'Malley in person and others like her? Please visit our website to find out how and where. https://www.indieromanceconvention.com/
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