Valentine's Everyday
Everyone seems to have an opinion on Valentine’s Day. Some believe that it has become a holiday that is purely commercial; something that some people celebrate because society has told them that they have to in order to prove their love to a significant other. Others believe that is a holiday only for those in a committed romantic relationship.
I believe that in today’s age we need more days like Valentine’s Day.
Now I should probably start this off by saying that I have not been in a committed relationship with anything besides Netflix and cheesecake since late 2011. It’s not that I’m opposed to finding another person to share my life with, but at twenty-three years old, it just isn’t a priority. I don’t feel that I’m missing out on any great experience or that life is passing me by. Having said that, I just need to express to all of you reading this that are single at this age, you are only on the time table you set for yourself. It’s fine to be single at this age and there is no reason to rush into anything and try to settle down.
I’m not sure why some people are so strongly against this holiday. Some people feel pressured to buy certain things or complete certain actions on Valentine’s Day, but I would say to these people that any pressure they may feel is a product of their relationship. If you feel the need to buy your significant other a dozen roses and a piece of expensive jewelry, then you should. But if that feeling comes from a place that you feel that they will be disappointed or there will be consequences if you do not do these things, then you should really take a step back and reevaluate where your relationship stands.
This day should make you stop and really appreciate what you have, not fill you with a sense of dread. Further than that, if you aren’t looking to play a cliché role in the play that has become Valentine’s Day, do something special. Find some activity or gift that means something special to the person you’re trying to express your love to. Simply making time for a person is hard enough in the fast-paced world we live in, so just going out of your way to let a person know that you feel strongly for them is sometimes enough.
There are all types of love, and we should celebrate all of them on Valentine’s Day, as well as every day. Instead of just buying flowers for you boyfriend/girlfriend, why not buy some for your parents or even a close friend? What I believe Valentine’s Day should represent is love in all forms. This can include but is not limited to romantic, familial, and friendly love. We live in a world where love is sometimes put on the back burner, but it should be forefront in everything we do. If we all just stopped to think about the level of love included in all of our actions I believe that the world would be in a much better state.
Now I know that some people will read this and say that they simply don’t have time to show love to everyone or that they can’t think about things like this all the time. My response to those people would be to at least try you best on Valentine’s Day to let the people who mean something to you know that they mean something to you. You at least have time for that.
