A Special Valentine's Day Message
I haven't ever been a hopeless romantic and I've finally come to terms with declaring it seeing as it is the romantics who are always quick to make a declaration, especially when one those videos that make my stomach churn for the not so endearing mushiness comes on, the awwns and the need for tissues to dab away tears have never been a first option.
I haven't ever been a hopeless romantic but that didn't change the apparent things like the need for companionship and other things. I have always liked a good laugh with someone, great conversations and the likes but the really amazing part to all of these needs were the constant changes, the simple fact that nothing was assured.
I got my first Valentine gift at 11, I was the angriest little bud in my class. I had zero tolerance for nonsense, I really was one tough cookie. I didn't like boys because all they wanted to do was hug you but in spite of all that one young boy had considered me nice enough to be liked, I didn't think much of it then but now I realize considering how really tough I was it must have taken a lot of effort. I had gotten back to the dormitory after class to meet a small package of a sweet smelling rose and a nice white teddy bear but I was 11, the thought was pointless and I was hungry, a box of chocolates or chips and a new mathset I would have preferred.
My next gift came at 12, not from a secret admirer but from a dear friend, she had gifted me a body spray, strong smelling fluid in a beautiful bottle, announcing that I had been there long after I had left a room, it was too strong and against my modesty, I was 11 and a tad bit too withdrawn, my confidants were letters written to myself, I would have preferred a journal.
My next gift didn't come until I was 14, I had become more conscious of feelings, attention and every other thing that would concern a teenager fresh in puberty. But I was also given to deep thinking and questioning certain odds thanks to spending time with people far older than I was and reading books.
I got gifted a bracelet, teddy bear, a box of chocolates and a powder at 16, everything had a good amount of red and asides from thinking this one was bent on getting me to go out with him, he probably had an affiliation with juju kingdom (pardon me I was young and very Nigerian). The gift was nice, the guy was desperate for a girl but I was growing, searching for answers to my questions in books, sitting in silence listening to people. I was 16 but I knew I what I wanted was tending towards stability, I knew I didn't want empty words and gifts that didn't really mean anything in long run, it was when the gift arrived with a note attached "I hope now you will say yes" I agreed to go out to get fish and over the meal I had told him "I just might become a reverend sister. He looked like he heard bad news but I thought he should have been happy the convent just gained a newbie but the fish was so good I couldn't complain..lol
Did I think these gifts were good enough? Yes and No. Did I like them? Yes. I have had no issue with receiving valentines s gifts over the years but something striking about all of these gifts was how in certain ways they reflected how I was evolving, how with different stages of my life I was needing more maybe because of exposure or just because of standards. They say, the older you get the less you want, I beg to differ for in my case I have realized that the older I have gotten, my needs have changed from the superficial to more quality things.
Gifts as lovely as they are, shouldn't be the reason to make a choice, the presence of all the quality things should be. Gifts shouldn't be the reason you should consider risking it all, one gift today shouldn't make you lose your senses, the more quality needs will still remain. You like the gadgets and expensive stuff now and because of all of these you're becoming emotionally invested, I'd have you know that needs change as the man grows. Get gifts and give gifts but bear this in mind.
I have received many other gifts since after I turned 14, did I become less critical and satisfied with one or more than one? Let me tell you about it next Valentine. Happy Valentine's Day.
I haven't ever been a hopeless romantic but that didn't change the apparent things like the need for companionship and other things. I have always liked a good laugh with someone, great conversations and the likes but the really amazing part to all of these needs were the constant changes, the simple fact that nothing was assured.
I got my first Valentine gift at 11, I was the angriest little bud in my class. I had zero tolerance for nonsense, I really was one tough cookie. I didn't like boys because all they wanted to do was hug you but in spite of all that one young boy had considered me nice enough to be liked, I didn't think much of it then but now I realize considering how really tough I was it must have taken a lot of effort. I had gotten back to the dormitory after class to meet a small package of a sweet smelling rose and a nice white teddy bear but I was 11, the thought was pointless and I was hungry, a box of chocolates or chips and a new mathset I would have preferred.
My next gift came at 12, not from a secret admirer but from a dear friend, she had gifted me a body spray, strong smelling fluid in a beautiful bottle, announcing that I had been there long after I had left a room, it was too strong and against my modesty, I was 11 and a tad bit too withdrawn, my confidants were letters written to myself, I would have preferred a journal.
My next gift didn't come until I was 14, I had become more conscious of feelings, attention and every other thing that would concern a teenager fresh in puberty. But I was also given to deep thinking and questioning certain odds thanks to spending time with people far older than I was and reading books.
I got gifted a bracelet, teddy bear, a box of chocolates and a powder at 16, everything had a good amount of red and asides from thinking this one was bent on getting me to go out with him, he probably had an affiliation with juju kingdom (pardon me I was young and very Nigerian). The gift was nice, the guy was desperate for a girl but I was growing, searching for answers to my questions in books, sitting in silence listening to people. I was 16 but I knew I what I wanted was tending towards stability, I knew I didn't want empty words and gifts that didn't really mean anything in long run, it was when the gift arrived with a note attached "I hope now you will say yes" I agreed to go out to get fish and over the meal I had told him "I just might become a reverend sister. He looked like he heard bad news but I thought he should have been happy the convent just gained a newbie but the fish was so good I couldn't complain..lol
Did I think these gifts were good enough? Yes and No. Did I like them? Yes. I have had no issue with receiving valentines s gifts over the years but something striking about all of these gifts was how in certain ways they reflected how I was evolving, how with different stages of my life I was needing more maybe because of exposure or just because of standards. They say, the older you get the less you want, I beg to differ for in my case I have realized that the older I have gotten, my needs have changed from the superficial to more quality things.
Gifts as lovely as they are, shouldn't be the reason to make a choice, the presence of all the quality things should be. Gifts shouldn't be the reason you should consider risking it all, one gift today shouldn't make you lose your senses, the more quality needs will still remain. You like the gadgets and expensive stuff now and because of all of these you're becoming emotionally invested, I'd have you know that needs change as the man grows. Get gifts and give gifts but bear this in mind.
I have received many other gifts since after I turned 14, did I become less critical and satisfied with one or more than one? Let me tell you about it next Valentine. Happy Valentine's Day.
Toyo baby.... How's you
ReplyDeleteOnly you can do this. Toyosi.... Only yoi
ReplyDeleteI had a good laugh while reading this. “...empty words and gifts that didn’t mean anything in the long run..” Thought provoking as usual. Welldone Toyo
ReplyDelete