Love, love, love….today is love day. The one day love is especially celebrated. It’s estimated that over 190 million exchanges will happen , all in the name of love. I’ve always been fascinated by two elements of established days that become traditions for exchanging gifts and kind thoughts.
#1- Have you ever wondered how special days like Feb. 14th were picked and why? How did they become so important, at least in the United States? A bit of research indicates that early Christian martyrs, Romantics of the Middle Ages and business in the late 18th century somehow are the basis for Feb. 14th as love day. I’m still scratching my head, the only part that makes sense is the business side of it. A stationary store owner in England, found a sure way to generate a lot of revenue-encourage your customers to exchange cards expressing their feelings of love- and the rest is history…
#2- The guilt-giving of these special days like Feb. 14th. This is where special days become very interesting. Feb. 14th , for many people might as well be relationship contest day. The size or creativity or expense of the gift one receives and how many people know about determine the winners. Especially does this seem to be true for the adult female side of the equation. The gifts and cards family members and friends exchange aren’t being discussed here. We all know what we’re talking about. A movie titled ‘Valentine’s Day’ starring Ashton Kutcher , Julia Roberts, Jessica Biel, Taylor Swift, George Lopez, Jamie Foxx etc., comically, some say disastrously, depicted the travails of love day in the United States. The pressure, yearning, lying etc that go on all in the name of love, art imitating life. Do we really need a movie to show us, what we are all too familiar with?
Actually, possibly the answer to that question is ….Yes!
What about a a movie that inspires and is based on a true story of one couple’s true love? Which brings me to the just released film ‘The Vow’ starring Channing Tatum and Rachel McAdams (yes, the same actress from ‘The Notebook’ ) Ok, where I am going with this. ‘The Vow’ is a movie that is inspired by real life. Yes, the real life of Kim and Krickett Carpenter. The Carpenter’s were married, then experienced a horrific event that truly tested their love. Their story and the film it inspired ‘The Vow’ demonstrate what true love is and can be about.
True love starts with one being more concerned about what one gives, more so than what one receives. Mama Romano shared a thought with me when I was a kid, a thought from the best selling book in the world, “There is more happiness in giving than there is receiving.”
Secondly true love is self sacrificing, the best interests of the other person come first, sometimes at the expense of self. Not $$$, although $$$ giving is very highlighted on love day, giving from one’s soul. Once again Mama Romano shared some thoughts about that too, from the same book, “ Love is long-suffering and kind. Love is not jealous, it does not brag, does not get puffed up, does not behave indecently, does not look for it’s own interests, does not become provoked. It does not keep account of the injury. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
‘The Vow’ inspired by Kim and Krickett Carpenter attempts to show the beauty of true love.