Post Valentine's Day

Technically, this post should go to the "Warm Fuzzies" blog. However, I felt this is more apt here since I announced my Post-Valentine's Day party on Psychobabble.

This party happened yesterday.

Shopped for decorations, party stuff, food, etc. last afternoon. Had friends clean up the mess in my apartment last evening (for those of you who have visited "Short and Sweet", you all know what a mammoth task that can be) and decorate it with lights, hearts, and what nots!. Had my roommate help me make desserts (Pizookis and Strawberry Jelly in heart shaped aluminium foils). Planned for several interesting games. Gave nicknames to everyone for the night (Mine was FEMME FATALE). And dressed up nice and pink (the dress code was red or pink).

The party was scheduled to begin at 8. Of course, it began at 10.

And then streams of red and pink poured in. Some carried food with them, all carried gifts with them. Some wore smiles, some wore excitement, and some nonchalance. Some demanded food, some demanded games, while some sat demure. And as we ate, the noise level in the apartment rose...in a nice way.

And then we played..for 4 hours non-stop. No one demanded alcohol. No one was drunk. And yet people were able to be goofy. People who never danced in their lives danced like Madhuri on Aaja Nachle. People who never looked at a girl in the eye before had a girl wink at them over and over again. People who do not talk in real life were paired up as partners. People who do not like to play games, played.

The Post-Valentine's Day was truly a success. Not because everyone showed up in red. Not because everyone liked the desserts. Not because everyone played and danced without alcohol. Not because the apartment looked like a child's bedroom, a child who was obsessed with the color red. Not because everyone liked the gifts that they received. But because everyone was together, happy, joyous. Some single, some not. And yet no one was a couple. We were all together. No grudges remembered, no new grudges formed.

The love was truly being shared and spread. A couple days late. But it was a Valentine's Day celebration after all!

Have A Nice Day!

Valentine's Day is finally here. The much awaited day. The much dreaded day. Excited lovers. Heartbroken people. Rich folks. Poor blokes. Valentine's Day impacts every one of us in a different way. And I say time and again. It is not just for the gooey-eyed, drooling, warm-blooded youngsters gushing over the fair-skinned, slender newcomer in college, nor just for those who have 2-carat diamond rings weighing on their ring fingers. It is for all of us who have nurtured love in our hearts at some point and continue to do so today.

With this I would like to wish all of the following a very nice day!

You, who gave birth to me, loved me, accepted my mistakes, forgave me for my foolish acts, and continue to support me everyday.

You, who treat me like your own daughter, without expecting anything from me in return.

You, who taught me, what unconditional love is all about, what selfless love is all about, what sacrifices is all about.

You, who never told me that you love me but ask me in a very concerned way, "Di are you okay?" when you sense I am not my usual self.

You who told me that you want to be just like me..in every way possible, and make me feel respected and loved, each time I talk to you.

You, who text message me randomly after weeks of nothingness to say hi and to make my day.

You, who call me at least once a day just to see how I am doing, no matter what kind of fight we might have had the day before.

You, who never tell me that I am harping on the same subject over and over again, even when I am, and listen to me patiently each time.

You, who sent me sweet, encouraging, and inspiration messages, when you felt that I needed some cheering up!

You, who call me up in the middle of the night, whenever I ask you to, pay a fortune on those long-distance calls, and yet never talk about hanging up, because you know I need you at that time.

You, you, and you.

All of you who make a big difference in my life.

My blogger friends who encourage me to write, my IM friends who encourage me to talk, my psychologist friends who encourage me to take care of my self, my college friends who encourage me to stay young, my school friends who gave me great memories to live with.

My best friends who encourage me to live, and laugh.

Those random strangers who have made life easier for me without having known it. The man who held the door when my hands were full. The man who helped me when I was injured in an accident. The woman who gave me directions when I was lost. The woman who held my hand when I was sick........

Valentine's Day is not about nursing broken hearts, cursing old lovers, pitying one's self, being angry at couples. Its about spreading love.

Have you spread some love today?

Have a nice day, you all!

Unbreak My Heart

February 14th is only 8 days away.

Precisely, Valentine's Day is 8 days away.

And some of us squirm in our seats each time someone asks us "What are your plans for Valentine's Day?". We tend to scream silently when a committed, engaged or married friend asks us the same question, knowing very well that we are single, perhaps heartbroken, and somewhat lonely. Maybe they do that so that we can ask them what their plans are in return. And then maybe out of courtesy, we indeed do that, trying to switch the focus of the conversation onto them. Result: We painstakingly feign interest and enthusiasm when they blurt out details of their spa reservation, candle light dinner at home, and the surprise bubble bath that they have planned.

What we, them, and the media fail to emphasize is that Valentine's Day is indeed about love, but not necessarily about romantic love. Its not all about expensive presents, fancy chocolates, teddy bears, and huge red hearts floating around. The day is about spreading love and joy, may it be with a partner, parent, sibling, best friend, roommate, or coworker.

Remember how cheesy Madhuri Dixit looked buying gifts for herself in "Dil To Pagal Hai" on Valentine's Day? She did that for herself because she loves herself. I know for a fact that we all have someone that we love and who loves us back in return. So whether you are partnered or not, think about those loved ones this Valentine's Day.

You are not lonely. You are not heartbroken. You have someone you can plan a Valentine's Day for. You do not have to wait for Mother's Day, Father's Day or Friendship Day. You do not need an excuse. Go ahead and walk around the stores with larger than life hearts hanging there. You don't have to be love struck to do that. As for me, I am going to throw a party next week and spend a wonderful evening with people I call friends!