Although some people are still campaigning to cancel the infamous February 14, I would like to come to the defense of this unfairly, over-hated holiday. Valentine’s Day is filled to the brim with love, joy and romance. If you are one of the people calling for its removal, maybe the problem is not the holiday – maybe you just do not like being reminded you are single yet again. You survived last year. You can do it again without ruining the fun for the rest of us.
Not Everything Is About You
I understand how you could feel left out of this love-bombed holiday without a partner to hold your lonesome hand, but I do not know why you singles cannot just let other people enjoy their moment. Studies from You’reJustMadYou’reSingle.com show that 83% of people who spend the holiday alone insist they are “totally fine,” when asked, and almost 95% of those same people go on to become experts on why the day is “problematic.” Hatred of the holiday cannot simply stem from a dislike of pink, red and an angel armed with a bow and arrow. Speaking of stems, would you like to smell the roses I got?
To: You
From: _____
If you are one of those terribly sad people who despise Valentine’s Day, have you ever considered that your attitude is the real problem here? My recommendation: eat more chocolate. Whenever I receive a box of chocolates, it instantly brightens my day. Maybe you have to buy them for yourself, but if your face is stuffed with raspberry compote and caramel truffles, no one has to hear you whine about how the “From:” line is blank. And on the bright side, you do not even have to share your sweets – either way, it all benefits Big Chocolate™ (lucky them).
The Rom-Com Rule Book: A Dummy’s Guide
As fun as staying home and watching a lighthearted rom-com with a plateful of pizza might sound, it is hard to enjoy a movie when existential dread – rooted in your loneliness – is creeping up behind the couch. Instead of feeling sorry for yourself, take those rom-coms and wield them like an advice manual (you could use it). I would like to offer you a moment to reflect on your self-imposed misery and ask why are you spending so much time watching these movies, when you could be out playing the field and putting your skills to the test? This self-inflicted solitude could be fixed very easily if you tried.
Cupid did not Miss: You just Ducked
Just because your own aim was a little off this year does not mean that you are destined to fail for all eternity. Cupid has not simply been missing you with his arrows, you just seem to perfectly dodge them and blame it on him. I am sure you will get ’em next year after some archery lessons from the winged matchmaker himself. Until then, focus on the benefits – I promise there are many. Not having to negotiate and plan some fancy romantic dinner is far less time-consuming, so consider yourself lucky. And think of the money you will save on gifts you will not be buying for your non-existent lover. Maybe by next February, you will finally stop side-stepping romance, because face it: the only thing standing between you and a valentine is you.
The Benefits of Silent Seclusion
Instead of projecting your negativity onto a holiday built on love, you singles ought to limit your fussing and focus on quietly wallowing in your own shame without disrupting happy couples – it really darkens the mood. You dug your own heart-shaped grave; you might as well lie in it. What do you want your headstone to say: “They died sad and alone”? At least then you will finally get some flowers. Some perks to being single (emphasis on quietly).
Conclusion: You are not Doomed Quite Yet
In the end, I do not think the whole holiday needs to be scrapped just because a few single people have enough free time to complain. If you did not end up receiving that box of chocolates or finally get that pink teddy bear you have always dreamed of, I do feel bad for you – but it is not oppression. Do not despair, though. I am sure your special someone is out there somewhere… maybe.
