A Case for Candy Hearts
Disclaimer: I am in a relationship, I have a sweet tooth that will never be satisfied, I like homemade crafts, and I don’t mind the color pink.
I figured I would alert you of the certain aspects of my persona that predispose me to enjoying the day that, as of late, everyone seems to be repulsed, depressed, or stressed by.
Generally, I lie about how I feel about Valentine’s Day. I act indifferent, as if I didn’t look forward to that day in elementary school when my cubby was filled with cards from my classmates and Jolly Rancher lollipops. No longer.
I love celebrating love, and I think the holiday gets a bad rap.
People hate it or they can't remember the date.
Most who hate on Valentine’s Day cite two main reasons: admitted bitterness about being single or hatred of the hype and commercialization. The most recent Valentine’s episode of The Office summed the polarization up really well.
“My perfect Valentine’s day? I’m at home, three cell phones in front of me, yielding desperate calls from people who want to buy one of the fifty restaurant reservations I made over 6 months ago”
-Dwight
“Anybody can be prince charming one day a year, with the dinner and the flowers and all that, but you know what impresses me? When a guy can do that no days a year.”
-Ryan
“Flowers, diamonds, three course meal, violinist comes to my table to serenade me.”
-Kelly
“Pizza, soda, the moon, someone to share it with.”
-Kevin
Granted, the idea of Valentine’s Day as a day set-aside only for romantic relationships makes it a lot less appealing. So does the idea of it as a day to spend too much money on corny cards and five-star restaurants. But setting aside that terrible, terrible Valentine’s Day rom-com of last year, I think it’s a shame that Valentine’s Day has morphed into something so meaningless to so many people. I think it holds so much promise as a time to appreciate what you have and let others know how you feel.
Valentine's Day can give you that extra courage you need to let someone know you "like, like" them.
To me, it’s always been about ALL the ones I care about. The day becomes important when I put my effort into showing my family, friends, and boyfriends alike how grateful I am to have them in my life. The trick is to make Valentine’s Day all-inclusive and genuine. Skip the increased amount of PDA with your significant other and handmake some cards with an honest message. A hand-written note will always trump any Hallmark greeting card.
Let's be real--cards like this are just creepy.
Valentine’s Day functions for me the same way New Year’s Resolutions do. While I do think that everyone should be able to resolve themselves to being a better person any day of the year, having a designated time to do so provides a little extra motivation. People argue that you should be able to show your love any day of the year, and they’re right. However, though I don’t like to admit it, amidst all of my own stresses, I don’t always remember to show the ones I love how much I care about them. I’ll take any help I can with that, even if it comes in the form of a mystery-shrouded, seemingly arbitrarily chosen date in February. Speaking of, you can learn more about the history of the date and St. Valentine here (the story is actually quite precious).
Go ahead and hate on the idea of Valentine’s Day as a time to buy a dozen roses for $100. Just remember that the day is what you make it. Simple appreciation goes a long way–no money or cliches necessary. And hey, if at the end of the day you still can’t stand the idea of Valentine’s Day, you can still take full advantage of the discounted chocolate.
About the Author (Author Profile)
Allie is a senior studying Art History in CAS and Public Relations in COM. She likes getting lost in museums, getting lost in foreign cities, getting lost in familiar cities, and wandering in a more general sense. For more rambling, follow her Twitter alter-ego: @Alliewith2ls.Subscribe
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Props for using Calvin and Hobbes.