Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Valentine's Day, a Year Ago

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!  I am one of the few single people that actually enjoys this holiday.  Actually, relationship status aside, there are a lot of Valentine's Day haters out there!  I get that people hate the commercialized aspect, and I think that we should show the people in our lives that we love them every day but I still like that one day is devoted to love. 

This Valentine's Day will be pretty lackluster for me as I the only date I have is a date with my CFA materials, so I am reflecting back on how I spent Valentine's Day last year!  I was in Paris, celebrating my birthday, and had an absolutely wonderful day. 

I went for a run along the Seine...


I enjoyed a delicious world famous hot chocolate at Angelina's (it's to die for)...






And if that wasn't already enough sugar, I also enjoyed a Mont Blanc, which is a meringue topped with chestnut paste.  Like the hot cocoa, it was also divine...


And then I meandered back to my apartment, walking along the Seine, and stopped in at one of the most famous bookstores in the world...






It was a magical day and a trip I will never forget.

I am going to close with the same poem I shared last year as it is one of my favorites and a year later, it still resonates with me.

Love After Love

The time will come when,
with elation

you will greet yourself arriving
at your own door, in your own mirror
and each will smile at the other's welcome,
and say, sit here. Eat.

You will love again the stranger who was your self.
Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart
to itself, to the stranger who has loved you
all your life, whom you ignored
for another, who knows you by heart.

Take down the love letters from the bookshelf,
the photographs, the desperate notes,
peel your own image from the mirror.
Sit. Feast on your life.

~ Derek Walcott

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!  Whether you choose to celebrate or boycott this holiday, I hope you have a wonderful day and end the day feeling loved.  I know I will.

17 comments:

Kelly (She Wears a Red Sox Cap) said...

You are definitely loved and I think it goes to show what a confident and strong person you are that you can still see the greatness in Valentines Day even if you have not be the very lucky in the boy-love department. You still do have many, many people who love you!

I think Valentines Day is great too, but this year I'm a little bit ignoring it- it's just such a busy week and with next week being vacation I feel like I can love everyone then haha. I am wearing red today and I did make the kids valentines- so yay.

Becky said...

It's crazy to think it's already been a year since your trip to France! Happy Valentine's Day friend!

Carolina John said...

Boycott!! stupid greeting card holiday. I may be one of the few married guys that actually resents being socially forced to display affection to people I display affection for regularly. But at least you're on the list. Much love, happy valentines day, xoxoxo!

Nora said...

Can we have hot chocolate now? So when we were watching Midnight in Paris when that bookstore came on screen I shouted at Knight how both you and my mom have been there! I was so excited to see it in a movie and acknowledged =)

Happy Valentine's Day to one of the best, most wonderful and amazing best friends and woman I know! <3

Marlys said...

I love you, my beautiful daughter! Happy Valentine's Day!

Leigh said...

Hope you have a fabulous day Lisa!

Amber said...

Hard to believe it's been a year already since your trip! I don't really have an opinion on Valentines Day. We don't really celebrate it but I don't hate it either.

Happy Valentines Day friend! Love you lots! XO

Nilsa @ SoMi Speaks said...

Happy February 14th to you, too! =)

Unknown said...

Wow! That was the best day, ever!!! Thanks for sharing!
Happy Gal-of-mine Day!

Love you!

Kyria @ Travel Spot said...

Happy Valentines Day, Lisa! I hope you enjoy your date with your studies. Today I went shopping with my dad and we had a burrito for lunch just like we always do when we go shopping together. It was great! I felt loved! And I didn't even need 100 dollar roses to make it happen! It's all about day to day love.

Have a great day! I remember your trip to Paris! I can't believe it was already a year ago!

Jolene - EverydayFoodie said...

Love the look of that bookstore!

Happy Valentine's Day to you :-)

San said...

Happy Tuesday :) <3

Lauren @ Sassy Molassy said...

Ah, last year's VDay looks so epic. Seriously, I don't understand why people hate Valentines. But I do love red and pink and love in general. Hope you had a fabulous day, Lisa!

Anonymous said...

That's so crazy that you were in France a year ago today! Time FLIES. I can't believe it's already been 6 months since I was in Greece, it honestly STILL feels like I just got home. Vacations leave such an impact on us, it's nuts! Hope your Valentine's Day turned out alright,despite studying :)

Caroline said...

Wow I can't believe it's been a year since your trip! I agree with you on Valentine's day. It's definitely commercialized, but it's still something nice all the same : )

J said...

I love this holiday mostly because it is a specific day to remind you to love your loved ones every day of the year! Sometimes we need a healthy reminder! I remember you were in Paris last year! IT must have been amazing!

Jeanie said...

Oh, I love your Valentine's Day last year! (And your photo!) Breaks my heart Shakespeare is no longer there; I so wanted Rick to see it. Maybe the building is... I must find Angelina's -- that looks to DIE for!