Monday, February 10, 2014

Why No One, Even Singles, Should Hate Valentine’s Day

Everyone knows that each year Valentine’s Day can have the tendency to bring out the cynic in some of us. Even those who aren’t single may roll their eyes at the holiday, looking at is as yet another commercialized, overemphasized way to raise your expectations and lower your cash. But this year lets try to get passed all the cheese and focus on the core meaning of Valentine’s Day- which is not a day for making you feel bad about yourself but about appreciating the people around you that you love and care about. For you single people, this appreciation isn’t reserved for a romantic partner, but for your friends and family too. I can remember Valentine’s Days that were spent watching chick flicks and drinking (okay chugging) wine with my closest friends, and those might have been some of the best Valentine’s Days I’ve ever had! It’s all about choosing your perspective and mindset.

For singles this holiday:

If you are one of those people who looks at Valentine’s Day as a reminder of how “alone” you are (we’ve all been there at least once) then I have one thing to say to you- stop being so pessimistic! Not being in a committed relationship of some sort on this one particular day shouldn’t make you feel torturously alone in the world. Contrary to popular belief, Valentine’s Day wasn’t made to hate on the singles! Valentine’s Day is a day to celebrate all kinds of love, it doesn’t have to be limited to romance. So if you’re single this year, call up your other single friends, plan a dinner date with some movies and a whole lot of wine and carbs and have a good night for yourself. Absolutely no sulking! 

For those in a relationship:

Dislike for this holiday isn’t limited to those who aren’t in a relationship, I’ve heard many couples say that they aren’t fans of the celebrations either. Various reasons include feeling like it puts too much pressure on people, the money spending aspect, and the reluctant but sometimes inevitable raising of expectations or hope that can lead to disappointment. Again, we have all been there before. But this year, try being more open minded. You don’t have to spend tons of money- most people would agree the best presents aren’t the most expensive ones but the ones that a lot of thought was put into. Save cramming a reservation in at a fancy restaurant and make a nice dinner for two at home. And to avoid any disappointments, just communicate with your significant other about how much celebrating you’re wanting or expecting. If you’re a couple who likes to go all out and indulge in the cheesier aspects of the holiday- go for it! If you prefer a simple acknowledgement and maybe a card, that’s fine too! Just make sure you’re vocal about it, remember your partner isn’t a mind reader!


Valentine’s Day is just a fun little holiday, there is no need for it to bring you down! So whether you are single or in a relationship, use this Valentine’s Day to tell the people in your life (parents, siblings, friends, and so on) that you love them and appreciate them. And then tell them every single day after that too! 

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