Editor’s Note: This is slightly sassy.
If you’re not a pink person, it’s safe to say February is not your month. Lately it seems like every store in America is covered in pink and red hearts, with aisles full of greeting cards stating, “I love you,” glorifying this “holiday” we call Valentine’s Day. Big teddy bears, heart-shaped chocolate boxes, and of course the classic roses are the staples of this one day a year event that we somehow all associate with love, relationships, and well… pink. I have always struggled to wrap my head around the idea that we commercialize one day a year, February 14th to be exact, and have it be a day full of complete expression of one’s love for someone else. What about the other 364 days of the year? Why can’t we just show the people we love that we love them every day?
I’ll admit it. I’m not much of Valentine’s Day fan. Pink isn’t my favorite color, I’m not a huge fan of getting flowers only to have them die days later, and I eat way too much chocolate on a daily basis anyway. I digress. Valentine’s Day “singles out” those who don’t have a “special someone.” Suddenly it is as if those lacking someone by their side, who are not giving them endless gifts and adoration on this one day a year, are somehow inadequate in the eyes of our society. A quick Google search shows so many articles titled ridiculous things such as “How to Spend Your Valentine’s Day Alone” or “How to Be Happy Being Single on Valentine’s Day”. What on Earth are we doing to ourselves? Why must we defend our choice and our status as “single” by somehow proving ourselves “happy” in the eyes of society?
We’ve all heard the classic, “If I’m not married by (insert age here), I’ll adopt 30 cats and live alone” or the assumption that if a man isn’t married by a certain age, that he is the next Hugh Hefner. Why we are stereotyping single people? Is single really a bad thing? Even the dictionary stigmatizes and gives “only,” “lone,” and “solo” as synonyms to “single.” Why is it that someone could be completely independent, successful, and happy and still have the stereotype of being “single” associated with him or her?
It comes down to this: there is life without a significant other by your side. Valentine’s Day should never be a reason for a girl to question herself or where she stands socially in society. Be happy with whatever situation you are in whether you are kicking it single for a little bit or committing strongly to your 2-year relationship. This Valentine’s Day, whatever your status is, enjoy it with the people you love. A boyfriend, a girlfriend, close friends, your family, or even your Netflix account. For the latter, I won’t judge; chances are, I’ll be doing the same.
Photo Sources:
http://media.topito.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/11/heart.jpg
http://longtailmyth.info/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/single-valentines-day-quotes-tumblr-c3zgwdcr.jpg
http://www.infolifequotes.com/2015/01/21/sex-and-the-city-friendship-quotes/