Ah, Valentine’s Day—coming at us in full force right after we barely recover from the holiday madness. Today, as I trudged through a dreary Monday morning, still grappling with the fog of a full work week ahead, I walked past a vivid display of chocolates, teddy bears, and heart-shaped everything. It was like a sugary, sentimental sneak attack right to the senses.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m all for a bit of love and celebration. But is it just me, or is there something jarring about seeing pink and red heart-shaped goodies when you’re not even sure you can make it through the day without a gallon of coffee? A sea of over-the-top sweetness that feels almost mocking when you’re in the grind, looking at spreadsheets and endless to-do lists. It’s like, “Hey! Here’s some love… but also, here’s your Monday stress.”

It made me think about the marketing genius (or cruelty?) of throwing love bombs at us when we’re barely out of the New Year’s resolution haze. The contrast is sharp—between those lovey-dovey reminders of romance and our actual lives filled with deadlines, emails, and Zoom meetings. Am I supposed to pick up some Valentine’s chocolates for myself as a reward for surviving the week? Or is it meant to be a distraction from the daily slog, some kind of sparkly illusion to keep us going?

Sure, I could grab a chocolate bar and say it’s all for self-care, but the truth is, love comes in many forms. Sometimes it’s about showing ourselves some kindness on a tough Monday, like treating ourselves to a decent lunch or stepping away from the screen for five minutes to breathe. Other times, it’s finding humor in the absurdity of being bombarded with Valentine’s reminders when we’re just trying to make it through the day.

The juxtaposition of the teddy bears and chocolates against a gray sky on this work-filled Monday was too perfect. It’s like life saying, “Here’s a little sweetness, but you still gotta deal with all this.” And maybe that’s the lesson. We navigate the mix—the work stress, the little joys, and the ridiculousness of it all.

So, as we march toward the holiday of love, maybe I’ll just focus on appreciating the small things. Like laughing at how out of place those romantic displays feel on a Monday. Because, if we can find some humor in the grind, then maybe we’re doing just fine.