Years ago, I started buying my own self flowers and Valentine's Day candy. Being long-time divorced and majority of the time single, I decided not to wait for someone else to bless me on on that sweet day. I love fresh flowers and pressing them afterwards to use in crafting. And who doesn't like to open a box of assorted chocolates, no matter what the origin is?

Nowadays, to reduce my sugar intake, I try to buy sugar-free.
One year on one of my jobs, I placed my box of chocolates on the counter where co-workers would pass by throughout the day. I bought it not only for me, but to share in this way. It was a very pretty, metallic red, metal box. I tilted the lid partially opened as an invite to take one. As I was busy on the phone, the occasional co-worker took one of the candies and smiled down at me.
One co-worker exclaimed,
How sweet of you to share your candy gift with us! Immediately, I started to say you're welcome but I bought it for myself. On the heels of that thought came this one,
she thinks that I have been generous enough to give to them of my gift. Let them all think that. I
did buy the candy for me
and to share with them like this, which was a lovely gesture in itself. However, I perceived that it was a bigger blessing to them, beyond just buying the candy to share, to think that I gave of my gift to them, which is what I would have done anyway had a sweetheart given it to me.
HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!