My Dahlia Day of Love

On Valentine’s Day last year, I bought myself a big long stem yellow Dahlia. It was late in the evening, and the flower seller near home was about to shut shop, so he gave it to me for ₹ 10. At home, I made myself a drink of hot chocolate and with the flower in hand, curled up to watch my favourite TV show. I spend a fair amount of time with myself and it was a special evening.

It is cozy!

As an educated woman I understand that this hoopla around Valentine’s Day ultimately boils down to money matters - it is about cards, flowers, chocolates and gifts. So why then, did I buy myself a flower?

Did I act on a whim? Was I lonely or did I feel bad for the florist who looked at me with hope filled eyes (not that my single flower did much to his business).

I'd like to think of that day as my Dahlia day of love, (yeah something like that eureka moment in the Platinum Day advt on television where the guy and gal looks into each other’s eyes and figure that they'd be lost without one another... Revelation!!)

I was a lost soul myself. I wandered around always looking for meaning, appreciation, respect, happiness... I walked, strayed, stumbled, found my footing, got lost again and in the whole process rediscovered me. I’m no Jane Austin heroine, and I’m not largely proud of all the things I have done, but they helped. Each and every right and wrong and the grey areas in between has made me the person I am today. And of that, I’m mighty proud.

Last Valentine's I had a Eureka moment! I have learnt to live with myself and it looks like I like it. So yes, I celebrate Valentine’s Day. With myself. And it is my dahlia day of love.