Valentine's Day Is About Love Not Lovers

When you think about Valentine's Day, do you feel pleasure? Grief? Anger? If you are single, Valentine's Day, along with New Years, are the two most hated holidays. Too many singles say they "hide out" on February 14.

Valentine's Day, though, is not about lovers; it's about love. It has become commercialized for lovers, but it's really a time to connect with people you care about. In the midst of the hearts and flowers that have become associated with this day, the origin of the holiday is lost.

In fact, there is no agreed upon origin. There are numerous stories about the man Valentine and the holiday of love. They range from Roman days to honor the god Lupercus, to Emperor Claudius forbidding marriage, to Pope Gelasium turning a pagan game of romance into a game about saints.

You can choose which version of the origin of the holiday you prefer, in the same way you can choose how to relate to Valentine's Day. It can be a day of shame because you do not love and are not loved by a special person, or you can honor this day by acknowledging those people who make your life better. Valentine's Day is not about lovers, it's about love.

Here are some tips for how to make this a special day.

1. Send cards to everyone you love, male and female, young and old. Not only will the recipients feel cherished, you will be reminded how blessed you are to have so many special people in your life. For a fun flashback to your school days, buy a pack of the colorful cards you used to pass out to classmates, or make them yourself.

2. Honor the service people who make your life better. Give cards to people in your everyday life, showing how much you appreciate them. It might be the person who cuts your hair or cleans your home. It might be the bank teller who helps when your checkbook gets out of balance. You don't have to wait for Christmas to let your mailperson know you appreciate the effort made to bring you 30 mail order catalogues a day. Think about the people who make your life easier; this is the day to remind yourself (and them) that you don't take them for granted.

3. Spend it with friends. Specifically choose February 14 to spend with people you appreciate but don't tell often enough. Take a favorite co-worker or office assistant to lunch. Or have a Valentine's dinner party for good friends.

4. Send flowers to yourself. Rather than mope or feel sorry for yourself that there is no man in your life to send you flowers, send them to yourself. Flowers are the love letters from Mother Nature.

5. Monitor your music. If you are likely to have a hard time on February 14, make sure for the few days leading up to the 14th you aren't listening to love songs or songs about longing for love or about brokenhearted love.

6. Don't hide. Don't pretend it isn't Valentine's Day. Say Happy Valentine's Day to everyone you see. Wear a pin with hearts or at least wear red and white.

7. If you are blue, don't fight it. Give yourself permission to be sad there isn't a loving man in your life. Give yourself an hour, even two, for your "Pity Party." Then stop. Move on. Be careful you don't drown your unhappiness in excessive alcohol, drugs, or food. There is no reason to be self-abusive just because you are alone and sad.

About the Author

Dr. Karen Gail Lewis is founder of Unique Retreats for Single Women. She's a marriage/family therapist and author of several books about single and married women. Join her for a FREE teleseminar on Unspoken Truths About Being Single in a Married World. Register at http://www.DrKarenGailLewis.com

Valentine Gift Baskets For Valentines Day

We've hardly gotten past the Christmas holiday season and it's time for gift giving again. Let's try to think outside the box this year and not give that same old tired box of chocolates. Yes, everyone loves chocolate, especially the ladies, but why not try something different this time.

Instead of shopping at your local super drugstore or discount store, shop online and have something special delivered. You are certain to find a valentine gift basket that is unique and you won't find it at your local discount store. You can shop from the convenience of your computer and have that something special delivered right to their door.

A valentines day gift basket will be sure to brighten the day of that someone special. I am sure it will be a pleasant surprise to receive a valentine gift basket delivered from you instead of a box of chocolates just like everyone else has received. It shows that you put a lot of thought into your gift to pick that special basket for your special someone.

A valentine gift basket doesn't just have to be a basket of chocolate, although you will find some very special chocolate baskets. Why not a spa basket? Let that special someone relax and get a spa treatment. They can enjoy lotions, scrubs, candles and have an incredible experience that you can't get from a box of chocolate. Best of all, they can enjoy it from the comfort of home.

Of course there is always the trusted delievery of roses, but its not just flowers delivered anymore. A gift basket for valentines day is sure to put a feather in your cap. You can surprise your loved one with a great gourmet cookie basket and who doesn't like cookies? Instead of roses you can send a bouquet of cookies or even chocolate roses.

The possibilites are endless with gift baskets. Why not try something new for valentines day this year? A valentines day gift basket is great way to show your valentine that you think they are special. You can find something for everyone and for every budget. So get online and get that special gift basket ordered for your special valentine.

Candy has put together a great site with the top online retailers for flowers and gift baskets. You are sure to find the best selection at http://www.notjustflowersdelivered.com

Taj Mahal Love

Taj Mahal Love & Valentine's Day!

Does true love really exists?

History says Yes!

Taj Mahal- The Symbol of Trule Love!

Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, is just a three hours journey from New Delhi, the capital of India. It has been one of the most attractive tourist spots in India for foreigners for years. Taj Mahal, the “best-ever symbol of eternal love” stands on the bank of river Jamuna at Agra, in the state of Uttar Pradesh.

Taj Mahal, one of India's best architectural wonders was built by the fifth Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan in 1631 in the memory of his second wife, Arjumand Banu who was later known as Mumtaz Mahal, (The meaning of the word Mumtaz Mahal is the Distinguished of the Palace).

Taj, the famous dome rests on a huge white marble terrace rising from a high red sandstone base (186x186 feet ) is flanked by four tapering minarets. Shahjahan consulted experts from the Middle East and Europe as he planned his legacy, which took Twenty Thousand people over Twenty-Two years to build. Cheap Travel modes are available to reach Taj Mahal, which used to serve as a wide moat defense of the Great Red Fort of Agra, the capital of the Mughal empire in those days.

Three names pop up as the designer of Taj Mahal, Geronimo Veroneo an Italian, Silversmith Austin de Bordeaux – French and Ustad Ahmad - the Persian Engineer cum Astrologer. It is heard that materials were collected from various corners of the world, like hills of Markana, Chinese Turkestan, Tibet, Burma, Afghanistan, Egypt and the Himalayas.

Cheap Travel Packages are available to intrude into the thrilling interior of this magnificent Mughal architecture, which comprises a domed ceiling, lofty central chamber, four octagonal corner rooms, the cenotaphs of Sha Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal in the center, an ever-glowing Cairene lamp.

Despite the controversy, whether it’s a tomb or a Shiva Temple, known as Tejo Mahalaya (acquired by Shah Jahan from the then Maharaja of Jaipur), Taj sparkles when the white marble basks in the moonlight. One may stay at cheap travel hotels to witness this mesmerizing beauty especially on a full moon night.

Plan your journey through cheap travel to visit one of the world's most famous monuments, Taj Mahal, which has just celebrated its 350th birthday.

Taj Mahal is said to express the different moods of a woman. It looks pinkish in the morning, milky white in the evening and golden when the moon shines. So, the travel freaks and romantic couples planning their trip to India through cheap travel should not give the Taj a miss!