The world is such a better place when voices like Laurie Penny’s rise above the cacophony and actively engage with the meaning and politics of the intimately personal.
You see, in trying to understand this Valentine’s Day thing a little better, I’ve been doing a bit of scratching around on the identity of the martyr who lends his name to the day-of-love. All I’ve found is myth and inconsistency. I’ve discovered that, thanks to the Catholic Church, some chancy Chaucer, Esther Howland and capitalism, Valentine’s Day is a sham. So, I’ve decided to cancel Valentine’s Day this year.
Inner peace for me is a state of mental stillness. It coincides with emotional calm – an opening of my heart to love and equanimity. There’s also an acceptance of how things are – that no matter what is going on around me, it’s all okay.