I hate Valentine’s Day and no, it’s not because I am a bitter single woman or the fact that I don’t particularly like chocolate. This holiday is just not worth recognizing. Why should we select one day out of the year to recognize our love for our friends, family or significant others?
Recognition of love and admiration should be happening every single day of the year. One day of chocolate and stuffed teddy bears that are just going to end up forgotten in the back of our closets are not going to make up for all the days that we don’t voice our feelings of love and appreciation. I find that it is nicer to receive gifts like flowers or small gestures of affection on days where they are not expected.
We must accept the fact that Valentine’s Day was invented by a big business in order to take even more of consumers’ money. Hallmark has benefited greatly by how much people spend on stupid cards that, with all honesty, people only get excited about if there is money inside. Sure, we will display the card for a few days, thinking, “Wow. He must love me so much.” Then, when you are tired of looking at it, you’ll just discard it like every other thing that you threw away when happy memories have been completely depleted.
To be completely honest, the only time I actually enjoyed Valentine’s Day was in elementary school because it meant everyone was going to bring in candy and cute little toys. Now, the most you may get is a text message or a gift of a heart on Valentine’s Day. Now, imagine you didn’t send or receive anything for Valentine’s Day, what does that say about you?
Valentine’s Day is a commercialized guilt trip. You think you must get your best friend something so they know that you thought of them, you think that you must get your significant other something because they need to know that you love them, but you shouldn’t have to and you shouldn’t feel bad if you don’t. Trust me, don’t prepare for Valentine’s Day. No one should wait for a day to come around so that they can validate their relationships. Love each other every day. You don’t need to make it known just because a holiday obligates you to. There are going to be enough holiday pictures on your Instagram feed. Feel free to skip this one.
