There’s a lot of hype over Valentine’s Day. My inbox has been flooded with ads for all the things I can buy for my Valentine or he can buy for me. From dozens of roses to boxes of chocolate, diamonds and heart pendants galore! Then there are all the online dating sites trying to capitalize on all the single people out there still looking for love – a free weekend of online dating, and then just $35 a month to make sure that next Valentine’s Day you are not alone. And let’s not forget the singles parties…
It’s Saturday night and I am going to an anti-Valentine Day party. What exactly is an anti-Valentine’s Day party? Well, I’ll let you know at the end of this post when I return to finish it. What I think it will be is a way for single people to possibly connect, have a drink or two and still go home single, but maybe with a business card or two.
Feather duster worms make a beautiful underwater Valentine's Day bouquet
I’m about to save this draft and head off for the party but hold on – I just got another Valentine’s Day email. However this one is different from the rest. It is a Valentine’s Day request for me to show my love for the ocean by donating money to the Project AWARE Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving underwater environments through education, advocacy and action. I like this idea. It’s a way for me to give a Valentine to something that I love, the ocean. The ocean gives me gifts every time I visit it, whether scuba diving beneath its’ surface or looking out over its’ waves. It is one of the many things that makes me smile and adds balance to my life. Some of you might know that I recently launched a new line of inspirational sport and hobby-themed T-shirts, called Life is Balance®. Lately I have been thinking about donating some percentage of sales from my shop to an ocean conservation organization (when I start actually making money, that is). I haven’t decided which one yet – Sea Shepherd is another worthy possibility under consideration.
What a nice change it would be if instead of only thinking of Valentine’s Day as an over commercialized day for couples, it became a day to show your love for anything that you are passionate about, whether it be the sea or some other worthy cause. It doesn’t have to be a monetary donation. The gift of your time is ever so valuable as well. Well, enough procrastination, it’s time to go and search for my anti-Valentine…
…12:30am
I just got home from the party, remember that? I promised you an update. I did something that I don’t usually do. I went to this party by myself where I didn’t know anyone. Out of my comfort zone to say the least. It didn’t start out all that promising when waiting on line to get in the bouncer asked both the girls in front of and behind me for proof but didn’t ask me. Should I be insulted? Inside, the line to check coats was another 15 minute wait. This was not looking promising. However, in the end I met three nice guys who each asked for my card. I still came home single but hey, you never know…
Monday is Valentine’s Day and I’m not going to sit around wondering whether either of the three guys will call. I’m going to see Placido Domingo with one of my best friends and I’m going to think about how I can help save the oceans. Not a bad day to look forward to. Nothing anti about this Valentine’s Day.