I am usually a big fan of Valentine’s Day. Although I’m always single on the day, I usually find a way to make it fun–celebrate my other single friends by going out to dinner and a movie, give them little gifts. Make valentines for everyone I know. Celebrate myself by buying something I normally wouldn’t for myself. (this year, I bought myself two tulle skirts, one powder blue, the other with Cinderella’s castle printed on it from the Cinderella: a Collection by LC Lauren Conrad at Kohl’s.) I don’t believe Valentine’s Day should make people feel shitty. Use the “love day” as a way to express love and gratitude for those you do care about–friends, yourself, family, co-workers, whomever.
But this year, I can’t take the pressure this holiday brings to many people. I think it’s because I’m closer to 30 and by October, I’ll have been to two engagement parties, three weddings and a former college housemate will have had her baby (that she’s excited about) within the year. So what does Valentine’s Day have to do with it? It’s bringing up these insecurities. There’s weird consumerist pressure to make February 14th either ultimate day of romance and passion or to make single women feel like they’re walking Cathy comics that I feel stressed.
(I had to.)
It’s such bullshit–why? Valentine’s Day makes single people feel awful for being such, and it makes people in relationships feel stressed out over an unofficial holiday where it’s like, you don’t pick the right restaurant or show up with an engagement ring, relationship over! It’s so dumb. So how do we circumvent these awful feelings? It’s not easy, at least from the single person’s perspective. The last two Valentine’s Days, I’ve had to work my retail job where customers and coworkers alike shot me looks of pity and served backhanded compliments as they were running off to meet their significant others while I was stuck closing the store. ugh, it was the worst. And as I can’t stress enough, it’s not necessary. We should be appreciating our loved ones every day. Valentine’s Day should just be seen as a bonus with cute decorations and a better color scheme than Christmas.
So is there a way to beat the pressure? You could be cynical and look at it as just a day for retailers to make money at the end of January/beginning of February, or you could hold on to the hippie dippy ideal that we go all out for everyone we love. I think in the end, you make the day as you want it to be. People are always going to try and be “helpful,” but they’re not important. What is important is that you’re happy, healthy and secure in your relationship. If you’re single, don’t look at it as a race. When you do get to the point that your friends are, it’ll be worth it. Don’t settle. If you want a relationship to happen, it will. You just need patience and to not let greeting card companies, movie studios, restaurants, and magazines make you feel awful. You’re fantastic!
Kathleen H. Furey 