Friday, March 29, 2024

A “Hearty” Valentine’s Day

by Gillian Jalosjos | February 20, 2022

Waking up and realizing it’s the 14th of February must be disappointing for someone, someone who’s single, maybe? Seeing people romanticize about the perfect date is quite concerning. Others might have been looking forward to the gifts they’ll receive from their special someone (like they deserve) and others might have been bummed after raising their expectations too high (The bar is on the floor; it’s not your fault. Always set your standards higher than Burj Khalifa).

It has been six days since Valentine’s Day and I still wonder how everyone spent it, how theirs went. I remember mine just waking up to a 7 a.m. class, not expecting anything. I mean, who wants to start their Valentine’s Day like that? Opening Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok was a mistake. Do I sound so bitter? Friends and acquaintances started posting everywhere! From sweet posts to salty memes to someone acting like it’s the end of the world — why was everyone so heated?

I asked Siri to tell me a Valentine’s Day joke and it told me the difference between a calendar and me. So, Siri said that the difference was that the calendar had a date and I didn’t. It was very unfunny, but why was I embarrassed?

Although this isn’t entirely accurate, we frequently think that this occasion is solely for romantic relationships. The sensitivity and consumerist anguish of Valentine’s Day isn’t just for couples, but it is for everyone. Being single, particularly on Valentine’s Day, is often thought to be a ‘humiliating’ thing. Single people often find the idea of planning the day for their loved ones, receiving nice gifts, and seeing lovely acts make the day a little uncomfortable.

Many single people have always found it an unwanted reminder to ponder their love lives, but the celebration’s spread beyond romantic love is a ruthlessly equal opportunity growth. This day is when many single people feel “lonely”. But thinking beyond romantic love is a good way to start understanding that Valentine’s Day is an appreciation and demonstration of our affection for others, as well as theirs to ours.

I recall receiving letters, candy, and different gifts from all my classmates back in my elementary days. The nostalgia got me thinking, why don’t we retain the same attitude that we were taught at an early age to enjoy numerous kinds of love?

It is easy to overlook acts of gratitude to those who help and support us when there are a lot of things going on in our lives. Valentine’s Day is a day to show your love and appreciation for people who are important to you. People value simple things because they show effort, so I’m sure anyone would be delighted to receive a genuine letter from someone they care about. 

It’s normal to put others before yourself, as self-love is just as important and should always be considered. There’s nothing wrong with pampering yourself. You too are valuable and deserving of affection. If you aren’t satisfied with yourself, you can’t expect others to make you happy. It helps to take the time to make sure you’re in the correct physical, mental, and emotional state.

Valentine’s Day is not the time to be lonely. Instead of thinking of that loneliness brought by being “single,” surround yourself with people who genuinely care about you, and I’m confident you’ll notice the difference. We may all appreciate this special day by remembering that love is beautiful and worthy of celebration.

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