Valentine’s Day seems to be the bane of many people’s existences. This (rather clichéd) sentiment is one I have never understood. I tend to love any holiday, really. Any chance to escape the normal routine, any excuse to cook something even slightly extravagant or dress a little differently than usual is worthy of being embraced, in my opinion. It’s a chance to have some fun. And yet, just as there are the Scrooges who hate Christmas, there are the whiners who abhor Valentine’s Day. People who complain about February’s most flamboyant holiday tend to fall into one of two camps: the Cynics and the Sad Saps. I’ll explore the latter category first, because I think they’re the ones who frustrate me most.
The Sad Saps are the ones who usually call it “Single Awareness Day.” Generally, these are the people who haven’t learned to be happy with themselves. They think that Valentine’s Day just exacerbates their misery. I just don’t sympathize with the Saps. I’ve been single for every Valentine’s Day in the twenty years that I’ve been alive, save one. Honestly, the one when I was in a relationship was probably one of the worst I’ve ever had. Blech. I won’t elaborate. In any case, it’s not like I’ve got a heart of stone. I’ve been wistful about not being wooed on those occasions. I mean, not this year—but I’m just saying, it has happened. It is, however, completely preposterous to choose angst and melancholy when you are free to decide to be happy. The problem, in that case, is not with the holiday itself. The true issue lies within you.
While it’s true that being part of a couple can be fun and/or fulfilling (sometimes), it is very important that we learn to be contented regardless. Know who you are and love it. Don’t wallow in your circumstances, but rejoice in them. God-ordained relationships are beautiful things. And if you aren’t half of a duo, chances are you aren’t meant to be. Take it from one experienced in idiocy, the romances that don’t arise as a matter of destiny are not pleasant affairs. Love the time that you have as a single young adult. The world is your oyster! I’m so tired of people thinking their lives can’t begin until they’ve got someone to latch onto—literally half the people I know fall into that category. If you’re not being faithful with your own gifts and talents or being proactive and taking the reins of your own life, then you may never be entrusted with a mate. You haven’t proven yourself. So stop whining, suck it up, and act like an adult for once in your life.
There are so many advantages to riding solo on that special day. First off, you have to admit it’s a hell of a lot cheaper. You know what else? You have the freedom to do whatever you want to do! This year, for example, I came up with an idea that was (if I may say) ingenious. The Sassy Single Ladies Club’s first annual Valentine’s dinner was a great success. When you make a date with other people you love, it makes it good. We could have gone to a movie or eaten somewhere fancy or done nothing at all. There was glorious freedom in it. Okay, enough about that—now for the second camp.
The Cynics also drive me a little crazy because often they just come off as pretentious humbuggers. Even if Valentine’s Day was invented by card companies and florists, it can be extremely fun. There’s nothing wrong with being cutesy every once in awhile. Enthusiasm is a lot more attractive than apathy. Only the emo teeny boppers think you’re cool when you’re being unsociable and taciturn. I just tend to think that people who are forcibly nonchalant are more insecure than anything else. It exudes desperation—that deplorable desperation to be admired is more than a little irksome.
Just use the day as one to remind you to be loving. Clearly when you’re such a grump about it, you may need a little reminder more than you think. You don’t have to buy anything. You don’t have to wear pink and red and use heart-shaped doilies. But you also don’t have to go knocking Sweethearts candies out of people’s hands and generally ruining everyone else’s good time. So there’s that.
All right, I could go on about this for days (as I really could most subjects), but I’m going to shut up and go show some love to my two best friends who have been waiting for me, because Valentine’s Day is not the singular occasion to be caring and kind. ;)
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