{"id":3208,"date":"2016-02-02T20:03:34","date_gmt":"2016-02-03T01:03:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/everydayspirituality\/?p=3208"},"modified":"2016-01-29T20:05:37","modified_gmt":"2016-01-30T01:05:37","slug":"four-things-not-to-do-on-valentines-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/everydayspirituality\/2016\/02\/four-things-not-to-do-on-valentines-day.html","title":{"rendered":"Four things NOT to do on Valentine\u2019s Day"},"content":{"rendered":"

Don\u2019t think you have to eat out at a fancy restaurant.<\/u> The tradition of eating someplace extraordinary requires reservations and yes, waiting, because so many other people are doing the same thing on Valentine\u2019s Day.<\/p>\n

You can instead eat at a smaller eatery, or eat in-house. You can have a simple healthy meal with maybe a special dessert, shared. At home, lighting one candle on the table offers a quietude more fitting for your Valentine, than sitting in a crowded restaurant.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Don\u2019t buy chocolate for someone with a weight problem.<\/u> Food is a temptation and love doesn\u2019t tempt us, but encourages us to be moderate and nourishing.<\/p>\n

Give flowers or a thoughtful card to your Valentine. You can even make the card.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Don\u2019t expect sex.<\/u> Love is not sex and expecting sex cheapens it. If there is no sex, disappointment seeps into the psyche and ruins Valentine\u2019s Day.<\/p>\n

Instead, appreciate the spiritual qualities of integrity, patience, and compassion in your Valentine and if sex happens, you will appreciate the intimacy and yourself.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Don\u2019t get down on yourself.<\/u> Not everyone has a Valentine in its narrow definition and that is okay.<\/p>\n

Love yourself <\/a>as God loves you. You are worthy of joy and wellbeing, gently and permanently bestowed on you by God. Your relationship with God, by default, is a relationship with infinite Love.<\/p>\n

Happy Valentine\u2019s Day.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Don\u2019t think you have to eat out at a fancy restaurant. The tradition of eating someplace extraordinary requires reservations and yes, waiting, because so many other people are doing the same thing on Valentine\u2019s Day. You can instead eat at a smaller eatery, or eat in-house. 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