Celebrate Your Love Story!

I have always loved Valentine's Day. It probably has something to do with the whole Birthday/Valentine's combination, but I also think that I just love the idea of the taking a time out to celebrate love, especially when all over the world there is a lot of non-love: war, hate crimes, bullying . . . and too much more.

I know there's the whole debate about commercialism, and that may be so, but I say there are worse things you could spend your money on today than a card, candy, or flowers to say "I LOVE YOU!" Or don't spend your money at all, and just spend some extra time. Love stories come in all different forms. It's not always about a man and a woman. Valentine's Day is about your own love story. Between friends. Between family. Or with that someone special.

Some of my favourite love stories have some pretty interesting relationships in the forefront. Here are my Top 3 (in no particular order) . ..

1. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer - Insert public groans here. I know, I know. I'm not 15. I'm an educated person. An English major, no less. Jane Austen or William Shakespeare should be the obvious favourites here. But the heart wants what it wants, and mine wants some good old fashioned human on vampire action. Throw some werewolf into the mix and you have a truly exciting supernatural love triangle. It's not conventional and that's why I love it!

2. The Time Traveller's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger - Speaking of not conventional and supernatural . . . I loved this book, once I figured it out. And isn't that just like a real-life love story? Confusing and yet so compelling you can't quite leave it alone. Add to the fact that at points I couldn't read through my tears, and you've got yourself a winner. Any book that ends up tear-stained is a sure bet for Valentine's Day.

and lastly . . .

3. Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert - If the supernatural isn't your thing, look no further than the real-life adventure of a woman who chronicles her many love stories as she travels the world. In Italy, the love between a woman and pizza, and woman and pasta. In India, the love between a woman and herself, and a woman and a higher power. In Indonesia, the love between a woman and life, and of course, a woman and a man. What more can you ask for in a love story!? Gilbert herself might not consider it as such, but instead, more of a discovery story . . . I say, love and discovery go hand in hand.

So, whether you are spending today with a special man, woman, child, puppy, coworker, friend, or with the extra special person that is YOU, take some time to spread some love in any conventional or unconventional way you can because no two love stories are exactly alike.