Every Day Is Valentine’s Day for Those Who Truly Love
For Mr. and Mrs. Jagjeet Singh, married for 61 years, every day is Valentine’s Day.
Today, Valentine’s Day has florists, restaurants, and hotels bustling with activity. Young couples go out of their way to express love—over-priced roses, chocolates, candlelit dinners, and yet another honeymoon trip. Love is certainly in the air.
For couples who have shared decades together, however, Valentine’s Day is often just another day. Husbands may think twice about buying gifts, while wives might wish their spouse were a bit more romantic. Practicality often trumps grand gestures. To many, a nice meal or a movie outing is enough; Chanel No. 5 or a bouquet of red roses? Wives can dream on.
After all, Valentine’s Day comes every year. Silver and golden wedding anniversaries, on the other hand, are once-in-a-lifetime milestones that deserve celebration with family and friends.
The Changing Face of Love
Couples who have spent a lifetime together know each other inside out. They can finish each other’s sentences, understand unspoken words, and share a comfortable silence. For them, every day is Valentine’s Day, expressed through small acts: holding hands while crossing the street, taking turns cooking meals, sharing chores, and caring for each other when ill.
For baby boomer couples now in their 70s, the giddiness of young love has often given way to quiet acceptance, comfort, and companionship.
Yet, not all long-term marriages are blissful. Some couples coexist with little love or communication, living under the same roof out of convenience. The spark has faded, and rekindling it seems impossible. Divorce may be costly or complicated, so they settle into a pattern of tolerance and minimal interaction. For these couples, Valentine’s Day holds no meaning—it’s just another day.
Senior Singles and the Freedom to Choose
Many senior singles are content being single, particularly those who have experienced unhappy marriages or divorces. For them, Valentine’s Day is not a reminder of loss but a celebration of independence. Loving partners are rare, and if the right one hasn’t appeared, it’s not the end of the world. Some married individuals even envy the freedom of their single friends. Senior singles can go where they want, do what they like, and answer to no one.
Seniors today have choices: to remain single or seek a partner. Options abound—online dating, social groups, activity clubs, or matchmaking services. Social norms have evolved; there is no stigma attached to divorce, second marriages, or late-life romance. Gossip has little power to dictate happiness. The message is clear: live for yourself, not for others.
Creative Arrangements: The New Norm
For couples who have lost romantic love but don’t want divorce, alternatives exist. Inspired by practices in Japan, ‘Sotsukon’ allows couples to live together as housemates—sharing friendship, companionship, and mutual respect—while enjoying independence. Both partners maintain a platonic connection, yet are free to pursue individual interests. Similar arrangements are increasingly common among older seniors who seek companionship without remarriage.
Love Every Day
Whether single, married, divorced, or widowed, love is not confined to Valentine’s Day—or to gifts. True love thrives in the everyday gestures: a smile, a warm hug, an affectionate kiss, or a kind deed for someone in need. Love costs nothing but enriches everything.
Spread a little love today—and every day. Happy Valentine’s Day.