The Valentine I See

The Valentine I See: I’m a physical education teacher, teaching kindergarten kids from K1 to K3. To be honest, every Valentine’s Day, I always see the same scenes again and again.

Kindergarten kids usually bring heart-shaped stickers to give to their teachers and friends. They run around happily, sticking hearts on everyone they like.

Older kids, especially in primary school, carry roses instead. Some of them don’t just bring one or two — they carry whole bunches, ten or even twenty roses in their arms.

This… is the Valentine I see every year.

The Valentine I See

Receiving stickers or roses from the kids always makes me feel really happy. But some years, the heart stickers cover my shirt and even my pants. I end up feeling like I’ve been “covered in gold leaf,” just like a Buddha statue at a temple.

It’s funny.
And honestly, it’s very heartwarming.

The kids run toward the teachers, competing with each other to stick hearts on us.
This simple joy — the kind that doesn’t cost any money at all —
is what Valentine’s Day looks like for a kindergarten teacher.

In the evening, after school ends, I usually stand with two close teacher friends. We watch the kids walk home, carrying their roses. And of course, we tease them.

“Wow… who gave you that? That’s a huge bouquet!”

If a child has their first little crush, they immediately get shy.
That’s when we know — something is going on.

So we ask again, just to tease them more.
“Who gave it to you? Tell us!”

Most of the time, the child doesn’t answer.
Their friends do it for them.
Then the child runs away, embarrassed, while the three of us laugh together.

I’ve been teasing kids like this for almost ten years now.
I’ve worked at this school for ten full years.
I’ve watched children grow up, year by year.
Some who were once tiny kindergarteners have already finished middle school.

The Meaning of Valentine’s Day

Many kids don’t even know what Valentine’s Day really is.
They don’t know where it started or what it originally meant.
They only know one thing:

“Today is the day of love.”

And honestly, that’s enough.

When I teach on February 14th, I usually tell the kids a simple story about Valentine’s Day.
I always remind them that love isn’t only about couples.

Love your parents.
Love your teachers.
Love your friends.
Love everyone who treats you kindly.

And most importantly, learn how to love yourself.

Because when you know how to love yourself, you can be happy every day —
not just on Valentine’s Day.

My Valentine’s Day

For me now, Valentine’s Day is just an ordinary day.
Nothing special.
No flowers.
No gifts for my partner.

Maybe it’s because I’m in my 40s now. Or maybe that’s just who I am.

Some of my friends, the same age as me, still buy Valentine’s gifts for their husbands.
When I think about it, I laugh at myself.

But when I was young?
Oh, I was very serious about Valentine’s Day.

I folded a thousand paper cranes and put them in glass jars.
I peeled heart-shaped candies, coated them with sugar, and carefully arranged them in bottles.
I sent cheesy love poems through a pager.

I really did everything.

Maybe I used up all my Valentine energy back then.

Even now, every Valentine’s Day, my partner and I still go out to eat together.
Hot pot, barbecue, grilled meat, spicy papaya salad, desserts — whatever we feel like.

But honestly, we don’t need Valentine’s Day to be sweet.
We take care of each other every day.

I may look tough, but we’re actually very sweet together.

Even though I’m chubby, my partner can take photos of me that look slim, beautiful, and confident —
without any apps at all.

That’s more than enough for me.

The Meaning of Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day comes from Saint Valentine,
who was believed to secretly perform weddings for couples
during a time when marriage was forbidden.

That small act became a symbol of love, kindness,
and the courage to stand up for human feelings.

Over time, Valentine’s Day changed with each era.
It became a day when people express love
through roses, chocolate, cards,
or small gifts chosen with care.

This Year, The Valentine I See

For me this year, Valentine’s Day will probably be simple.
Grilled meat.
Spicy papaya salad.
And someone beside me, quietly doing their best at work.

That’s enough.

I hope Valentine’s Day in 2026
reminds everyone of what the word “love” really means —
in a way that is gentle to yourself
and kind to the people around you.