Ahhhh, Valentine’s Day. The one day a year when couples portray their love for each other with cheap chocolate, flowers from CVS, and edited collages of photos on Instagram.
I was a huge Valentine’s Day fan for a while, until I realized that it’s mostly a marketing tactic that makes some people believe their love isn’t real if they don’t get a chocolate heart box from Walgreens or an expensive dinner in the North End.
I don’t hate it now, but I definitely don’t love it like I used to.
For those in a relationship, V-Day seems like a day of pressure and expectations, but for us single folks, it’s more like a slap in the face that highlights the fact that we are alone.
We have to sit back and see all of the happy couples cuddling up to a nice dinner or movie, expressing how they just can’t live without each other.
My Valentine’s Day this year will be spent on my couch, rewatching Schitt’s Creek for the fourth time, eating the cheapest frozen pizza I could find at Trader Joe’s, and snuggling with my roommate’s cat and a pint of ice cream.
And honestly, I couldn’t be happier with that plan.
Although I have celebrated with a significant other the past five years, being single this year has shown me that there is another great side to Valentine’s Day that doesn’t involve any of the “traditional” couple celebrations.
For the longest time I thought that I had to have a “Valentine” and that it was sad if I didn’t. I still have a Valentine this year, it’s just myself.
The whole portrayal of Valentine’s Day makes it seem as if you have to find someone you like to spend it with.
The pressure of those little white boxes on Instagram stories that say “It’s officially love season! Show off your love,” has everyone posting pictures of their significant other and if you don’t, the legitimacy of your relationship is questioned. (I, however, would just post a picture of tacos because I do, in fact, love them.)
I thought that on Valentine’s Day I had to partake in some kind of candle-lit dinner with someone and I just had to be given chocolate and flowers.
I loved these things when they did happen and thought they were heartfelt and sweet, and I still think they are.
I’ve just come to realize that these acts of kindness and the giddy, loving feeling you get on Valentine’s Day should be something you experience year round whether you’re in a relationship or not, not just one random day in February.
Valentine’s Day is a sweet, comforting and romantic day that I have nothing against, but the pressure and hype surrounding it can cause people to hate it.
The cool thing about it is that I feel like Valentine’s Day forces everyone to take a step back from their busy lives and acknowledge and appreciate someone they love, which is something that can sometimes get lost in the craziness of the world.
It is a day for everyone, single or taken, to think about who they appreciate and love and why, while also giving them an excuse to send a random gift expressing this love or to just let someone know you’re thinking about them.
When I was asked to write a column about Valentine’s Day, I originally said “ugh, I hate that holiday.”
But as I started writing this and thinking about what the day itself means, I realized that I don’t actually hate it.
I appreciate the meaning behind it, especially during a pandemic and all the injustice going on in the world, we could all use a day dedicated to a little more love.
Don’t get me wrong, if I was in a relationship I would probably be writing something completely different about how I think Valentine’s Day is the best: It’s so romantic and sweet, I love the colors red and pink, and I think Cupid is adorable.
But I’m not, so I guess what I’m trying to say is that, if you are alone this Valentine’s Day, then that’s OK.
Don’t hate the holiday because Jessica Biel in the movie “Valentine’s Day” told you to.
Dedicate this V-Day to loving yourself. Look in the mirror and compliment yourself and focus on a quality that you love. You don’t need a significant other to tell you these things for them to be true.
Embrace and enjoy being alone this V-Day and do what you want to make you happy for a change. For those of you who don’t have someone telling you they love you this year, I love you and I am rooting for you 🙂
Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone. I hope you enjoy your fancy Italian food, I just don’t care to see photos of it and your cute little gifts on Instagram.
Sincerely,
Us singles
