All About My Valentine’s Day and your gift

ALL ABOUT MY VALENTINE’S DAY AND YOUR GIFT

What is for you a romantic encounter?

What is a romantic night, day, person, dinner, experience?

If you go back on this blog, you’ll see that I used to talk about luxurious, sophisticated places and items for Valentine’s Day: restaurants, menus, hotels, everything that shows la « joie de vivre » of the French. I didn’t talk about jewelry or lingerie, but you get the idea.

I’m not saying that luxury is not beautiful; that’s why it attracts so many people. That and the fact that it’s fashionable.

I’m discovering day by day lately why the “flashy” is not it. I’ve known that simplicity is the ultimate form of sophistication – my “flashy” period (much like Picasso’s pink period) was for me something to analyze, to see how it changes people, an opportunity to go back to the basics. Well… luxury may seem like it fits everybody, but does it, really?

Does it maybe feel a little superficial, a little meaningless, a little lonely?

And now, before Valentine’s Day, “lonely” is not the operative word.

So should we go for flashy, pretty, balloon-y, sparkly, or should we go for warm, heartfelt, subtle, intimate?

If you tried both the ends of the spectrum, then you’ll know what fits you. You’ll know where you fit in best. Actually, you shouldn’t look to “fit in”, you should see what feels home.

Valentine’s Day can be very stressful – and it is for most people.

If you have a partner you are happy with, it could be stressful to find the perfect something-something that makes them jump on your neck and tell you how unbelievable you are.

If you have a partner that you go through a challenging time with, you may have the stress of finding something that makes them happy, so that you two take off in the relationship you know you can have together. And that “something” can be a chocolate chip cookie picked on your way home, that you’ll split with them – the best kind.

If you don’t have a partner, then you may stress over finding ways to ignore the day with dignity, and may secretly hope that there’s a way to skip the day altogether – maybe by jumping on an airplane, direction East.

If you don’t have a partner and you are happy about it, then maybe… you fill in the blank.

And I’m sure I didn’t make an exhaustive list. But that’s not my intention after all.

There is a way that works for most, though.

Rather than going for what’s expected of us, what everybody does, what media dictates or what Disney is luring us with, we could instead go with something that is real for each of us. Real as in let your no-make-up and no-bow-tie selves relax into what would be possible without a big-gift or large-gesture; instead, see what can happen if you “only” rely on a huge-heart and deep-love.

Have a simple coffee and homemade pancakes breakfast in your pajamas, watching your favorite morning movie, with your babe – it’s going to be on a Sunday this year, so it’s feasible 😉

Have a walk in the city, and hug and kiss. A lot. Stop for a coffee. Hug and kiss again, just because. Don’t plan anything, just listen for what the moment asks for. You’ll remember it forever.

Go to a movie, and stay close, real close. Nothing better than watching a movie, really together.

If you don’t have a partner, skip the day.

Get really busy. There’s no such a thing as Valentine’s Day for singles, don’t believe the marketing lingo. I tried – it doesn’t work well. It’s actually quite pathetic.

I see so many people stressing about Valentine’s day, it makes me wonder. Most chocolate purchased and consumed, most anxiety for both singles and coupled people, and, oh, did you hear? Most break-ups. So, it’s a chocolaty yet messy day. I’d say, if you have something to celebrate on the 14th, then sure, take advantage of it. If not, try to break out of the money-making marketing machine, and enjoy it in your own specific un-flashy, and real way.

The French do it, because they know that « la joie de vivre » doesn’t rely on external bells and whistles. They know that love doesn’t reach out, it pulls in. They know that romance (with its relentless flirting) doesn’t belong to an age and it doesn’t end. Ever. And it’s not a 50-50, it’s 100%. Always.

Now this is just a little sampling of « savoir vivre ». Try it, it may change your life.

(February 6-15)

French is for Lovers, and lovers should learn to speak French together. This is the only time in the year when two people can take the Intensif or Extensif together (if you can’t start right away, register and start later: the classes never expire).

You two and I will chat in French together on Skype. Grab your lover, partner or friend by their hand, and learn to speak French together. Practice together, have fun and make beautiful memories.
A value of $799 for FREE!

NOW IT IS YOUR TURN!
Which part of this article most resonated with you and why? What is the one action that you’ll take today? 🙂

Let me guess.