Is Cupid Stupid…

Oh, love is in the air, do you feel it… Today, the ultimate romance will either begin, renew, or end and all stemming from the smallest gesture of kindness to the idiot who, so lost in the sauce, truly forgets. I can barely stand the angst, anticipation, and the longing desire to gaze into my significant other’s eyes, candle light illuminating, and knowing that every other couple in the room is feeling the exact same way. I feel privileged and yet a little devious knowing I have the inside scoop to mentally balance and prepare for what will transpire today and I thought it only right to share with my network.

Oh, the absolute excitement in knowing that this Hallmark moment is projected to hit a record high of $20.7 billion in expenditures with 9 million proposals. Don’t you feel special? Look at all those texts, emails, social media posts flooding in with hearts, and flowers. I even bet you received a message where someone was able to wax poetic and your heart is in flutters… Oh, the butterflies. I, for one, can barely stand it.

This morning, as I laid out my red dress, my daughters red dress, and my 6 yr old sons red tie all due to his specifications so that he could escort us to dinner; I went through the 5 stages: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. Now while you take a moment to process my over dramatized statement, and question my sanity, may I remind you: $20.7 billion in expenditures, 9 million proposals.

 Back to my son… he specifically asked for his favorite restaurant, and then gave me insight as to why: His current crush works there and he plans to confess his love. She is 22, absolutely gorgeous, sweet, funny – all the things we long to be and now I face the reality that I’m no longer the love of my son’s life. Yes, I must get over myself.

So, here we are. Valentine’s Day 2019 will be met with my son’s denial that she is the right age, maybe anger when she dismisses him, he will bargain for a hug, be sad on the drive home, and, by the time we arrive to his room, he will have accepted his first rejection and ask to play with his toys. Thank you, Hallmark, for tugging on the heart strings of our little ones with all the Valentine presents and the special priced dinner at $40 a plate… I’m looking at spending close to $500 and that’s only because I am wearing an old red dress.  

Let me get to the point of this article… “Your flaws are perfect for the heart that’s meant to love you.”  Thank you, Trent Shelton, but at this point I’m sure most of us would love to hear an employer say: your flaws are perfect for this company that wants to hire you. Are you positioning your flaws to be regarded as strengths? Are you investing the same amount of time, passion, and energy that you invest when Hallmark sparks fly to speak to companies who do have a desire to recruit and retain you?

How about Max Muller “A flower cannot blossom without sunshine, and man cannot live without love "money".” Are you ensuring that your education speaks to your vocation and that your vocation allows you to be financially literate? If the purchase of today’s flowers cause headache for tomorrow then I would strongly suggest taking a step back and in a position of strength, share your goals, your hopes, and your dreams with your significant other. After all, the greatest act of love is shown through the time you invest in another.

“You know you’re in love when you can’t fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.” – Dr. Seuss. What are you doing today to ensure your reality is better than your dreams? Train, prepare, and educate and don’t allow love to be like an hourglass – filling up your heart, while emptying your brain! At the end of the day, let your confidence resound in this statement felt by your family, friends, and network “If you remember me, then I don’t care if everyone else forgets.” – Haruki Murakami

Thank you to all of the companies, sponsors, and like-minded organizations that continue to collaborate and support the mission of Centurion Military Alliance! Happy Valentine’s Day!