Tomorrow, February 14, is the day where almost everyone in the entire world exchanges the greeting: I love you! It makes no difference if the person is family, friend or indeed the object of our devoted affection, the vast majority of us share this sentiment with at least one other person on this occasion. It’s a simple phrase that sums up our feelings.
There are numerous legends as to the origins of Valentine’s Day. Too many to even attempt to document them all here. What matters most is that we share with one another how much they mean to us and our fondness for them. When we think about this, the actual history of this special day isn’t as important as the fact that we actually reach out to someone and re-assure them of their value in our lives.
I think that my husband, Aaron, and I are like most married couples as we try to tell or demonstrate to each other our love every day that we share. I write “try” because like most relationships, there are those few days that we may not “feel” the love that we know is deep inside us. Nonetheless, no matter how stressful our day has been and regardless of the tension between us, we honestly make the effort not to go to bed at night without showing our love.
The photograph accompanying this post is of myself back in 2012. My good Deaf, gay and nudist friend, Darren, is the photographer. I’m making the sign with my right hand for the words: I love you. This is how affection is communicated to one another in American Sign Language (ASL). To make the sign, hold your dominant hand at head level with the palm facing away from you. Extend the thumb, index finger and “pinkie” finger with the others covering the palm. This creates the sign using the initials, “ILY” representing the first letters of the phrase: I love you.
Now you have another way to communicate your love to whomever for Valentine’s Day. Happy Valentine’s Day!
Naked hugs!
Roger/ReNude Pride
ReNude Pride 