Valentines proving to be a grateful day

Valentine’s Day - it has its haters, and appropriately, its lovers.

Some people rail against the commercialism of it, but I think Valentine’s Day can serve a worthy purpose. It’s a chance to stop and appreciate the things that make us, us.

In my house, we’ve never made much of a fuss about the 14th - not many bouquets have been exchanged - but I believe that it’s a fitting day to say… thanks.

Thanks for being the calm in those moments when I am the storm.

Thanks for understanding that when you’re making your suppertime snack, we’ll never know if I truly mean that I don’t want any until you have settled beside me on the sofa with your portion-for-one.

And while we’re on that, thanks for ordering the dish without coriander, so that I can have some too.

Thanks for being particular enough about how the firewood is stacked that you never expect me to help.

Thanks for asking how our day was, but for never, ever asking what I’ve done all day. Thanks for being proud of me. Thank you, on the evening that the pregnancy test unexpectedly showed up its dual pink lines, for having the courage to whisper from your pillow to mine that you were excited. Really, thanks for that. That one counts for a lot.

Thanks for seeing how brilliant my sister is.

It took some time, but thank you for growing to tolerate the trio of chickens. Nope, we probably don’t save any money by gathering our own eggs, but watching our two-year-old wander around with a hen in his arms is pretty cute, right?

Thank you for the long days, which you do for us. Thank you for sometimes managing to come home early, which you do for us too.

Thanks for leaving me the salted caramels.

Thank you for being sucked into watching terrible TV shows with me. Love Island was totally my fault and I dragged you down with me.

Thank you for your family. Thanks for bringing me honeycomb from your hives. It’s a wonderful alternative to those impromptu bouquets.

Thanks for understanding that, although men and women are equal in many ways, you will still do the vast majority of the heavy lifting in our relationship.

Thank you for the Sunday sleep-ins.

Thanks for treading water in the middle of the river for those long minutes before I manage to jump in.

Thank you for whatever comes next. It’s going to be great.

SUPPLIED/ 123RF Valentines Day a chance to apprieciate the little things.