“A moment lasts all of a second, but the memory lives on forever.” ~Unknown

What if you were able to remember every single moment of every single day of your entire life? What if it took you all of three seconds to recall what you had for lunch on May 16th, 1996? Or how many times you made a right turn on June 26th, 2005? Or, more importantly, every time someone said something hurtful about you - ever. Or how many times you had been embarrassed? Or how many times you had been sick? Or failed a test?

Would you ever venture out and take a risk? Would you put yourself out there in friendships or relationships? Would you try something new? Or would you be paralyzed by the memory of every single time you failed?

Your memories would be as fresh as if they happened minutes ago - does that mean the pain/pleasure/sadness/happiness would be as fresh as well?

Would the good memories balance out the bad?

Or would you just hold onto every small defeat...forever.

“God gave us memory so that we might have roses in December.”

"I love Valentine's Day. When you're a kid everyone gets a Valentine. It's like 'TO TIM, NICE PANTS, LOVE SCOTT'." - Mike Birbiglia

I have a confession to make.

Even though I'm single (and have been for 26 out of the past 27 Valentines days)...

I like Valentines day.

No, not the commercialized, forced affection part of Valentines day but I do appreciate any opportunity to give gifts, tell people you love them and make them smile. Perhaps the reason I can appreciate this 'holiday' (without being bitter) is because I don't believe that it should be limited to celebrating romantic love. I believe Valentines day can, just as easily, be used to celebrate love for your family or your friends either in addition too or instead of celebrating romantic love.

For as long as I can remember I would wake on on Valentines day to find a special treat from my parents. Sometimes it was chocolates, sometimes a special cookie, one year it was a heart shaped coin purse and every now and then it was just a card. Regardless of what the gift was, it was a reminder of love - my parents love for me as well as the possibility that love, true and romantic love, was out there somewhere.

So, here's hoping that Valentines day brought you some love - love from your family, your friends, your pets, your coworkers...whomever.