Whether your significant other is miles away or you’re merely separated by the mass pandemic we find ourselves in, it’s safe to say that many people will be celebrating Valentine’s Day without their other half this year—myself included. On a day that’s nauseatingly fixated on love and all things red and pink, it’s easy to fall into a cynical rabbit hole when your person is so far away. While there’s potential in dismissing Valentine’s Day as a tool of capitalism that preys on the American ideals of materialism equating to love and affection, V-day is so much simpler than that. It’s a day at the beginning of the New Year to show appreciation to the people in your life that you love and who make you, you.
Personally, I’ve only had one boyfriend in my lifetime, so I have plenty of experience with presuming the title of ‘loner’ on Valentine’s Day. That was so much easier than having a Valentine and being completely separated from them. But when I’m faced with the downsides of a long-distance relationship on the day of love this year, I find it important to look back on my past Valentine’s Days. I may have been single but I had so many Valentines. If you don’t have a Valentine this year due to COVID-19 social distancing or if you’re simply distancing from your partner, find someone else to cope with who can be your secondary Valentine.
Every year, my Dad would be my Valentine and surprise me with all the cheesy V-day candy and cards that the holiday is notorious for. So, if you’re hiding from COVID-19 at home, a simple solution to the ever-pressing Valentine’s Day dilemma could be hanging out with your parents or hometown friends!
This used to be my easy fix. However, I couldn’t bring my boyfriend or my parents along with me to college (a blessing and a curse). Therefore, this year’s hunt for a secondary Valentine started with my roommate. Everything was going according to plan until they were mercilessly foiled by a new boyfriend that’s actually here on campus. Since that scheme fell to pieces, my search soon ended with another new college friend who, like me, has a traitor of a boyfriend who goes to a different college. Our similar situations resulted in the perfect remedy for the up-and-coming holiday. We’re now in the process of planning the perfect Valentine’s Day girls’ day, or Galentine’s Day for short. This day will be filled with envying all the couples gallivanting through Landis Green, getting our nails done and watching some traditional Valentine’s Day rom coms with the traditional Valentine’s Day treat: chocolate!
The moral of the story and my wordy explanation of my hunt for a Valentine is that there’s always somebody in your life who needs some extra love or fun. V-Day may be just one day in a year, but you can always find someone around you who appreciates you. So, like most things this past year, 2021’s Valentine’s Day may pose multiple challenges and barriers to the perfect day of love celebration. But, any challenge can be overcome, especially with some help from the people around you.
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