What Do Mediation and Valentine’s Day Have in Common?

Happy Valentine’s Day … those words either bring smiles to people’s faces or sadness to their hearts … at least that is the way it seems. There is even a move to call it Singles awareness Day.

We fully understand the joy and sadness that seems to surround this day. In fact, this is called by some “Break-up Day” as well as many relationships to come to a head at this time.

The name "Valentine" (Valentinus), derived from the Latin “valens” (worthy, strong, powerful), was popular in Late Antiquity (a period between the second and eighth centuries).  Of the Valentine whose feast is on February 14, nothing is known except his name and that he was buried at the Via Flaminia (an ancient Roman road) north of Rome on February 14, 269.

While he is well known as Saint Valentine, he is not officially recognized as a saint by the Catholic Church anymore. The Saint Valentine who is celebrated on February 14 remains in the Catholic Church's official list of saints (the Roman Martyrology), but, in view of the scarcity of information about him, his commemoration was removed from the General Calendar for universal liturgical veneration, when this was revised in 1969.

According to the National Retail Federation, Americans are expected to spend more than $15 Billion this Valentine's Day.

If we cut the approximately 300 million people in the US down to 200 Billion (taking out children and the very elderly) and divide the $15 Billion by the 200 million that means that each person will spend on average $75.00 each to reach that figure.  If only 100 million of us exchange Valentine’s Day gifts the average is $150.00 a person.

But for the well-being of ourselves and our relationships, “Will you be my Valentine?” is the wrong question. Instead, the more important question to ask yourself is “Should you be my Valentine?”

Relationships can be one of the most important sources of happiness in your life, with social connections serving as a key provider of happiness and meaningfulness. Not surprisingly, human beings have a very powerful drive to form and maintain relationships. After all, the future of humankind depends on people coupling up to conceive and raise the next generation. Because forming relationships is such a powerful motivator, being in any relationship can seem better than being alone. A variety of factors can lull us into relationship complacency – compatibility, friendship, shared interests, inertia, fear of being single or low expectations. The drive to be paired off may lead you to settle for the relationship you have, instead of the relationship you deserve.

At WHYmediate?, Find out how mediation can allow you to resolve many different types of conflicts that can occur around Valentine’s Day in a positive learning environment that covers how to deal with all the upcoming days in your life.

WHYmediate? Mediation Services
4500 South Lakeshore Drive Suite 300 
Tempe, AZ 85282 
(480) 777-5500
http://whymediate.solutions