Valentine’s Day: you either love it or you hate it, there’s no in between. I, for one, have always loved Valentine’s Day. Some of my earliest memories involve making valentines for my kindergarten classmates with my grandma or waking up to a box of chocolates from my mother. Have all of my Valentine’s Days been filled with love and happiness? Of course not. One year, in the thick of a situationship, I looked forward to spending time with my (more than a) friend. Will he plan something romantic? Should I buy him some chocolates? Unfortunately, my night consisted of nothing other than watching him and his friends play FIFA. That night, as I drove home, I called him to let him know we wouldn’t be seeing each other anymore.
The Bottom Line: Let Valentine’s Day serve as a reminder of all the love you are worth.
Last year, I broke up with my boyfriend four days before Valentine’s Day (Harsh, I know). Despite how upset I felt, I gathered the materials for the care package I had intended to give him (gift cards, candies, and cute socks), and surprised my RA with it instead. “Thanks for all you do,” I wrote in a pink little card, signed by all of my floormates.
The Bottom Line: You don’t need to be in a relationship to celebrate Valentine’s Day. We “love” so many different people: friends, family, classmates. Whether you are newly single, trying to navigate a friends with benefits situation, or happily dating, there are truly so many ways to show others how much you care about them. You could bake some red velvet cupcakes, buy a dozen roses, or coordinate a wine and movie night with your girlfriends! Rather than using Valentine’s Day to dwell on romantic troubles, use it as a day to appreciate love in other aspects of life, like when someone holds the door for you or sends you a TikTok saying “this made me think of you” or surprises you with coffee on a rough morning.
The Bottom Bottom Line: Don’t be a grinch this Valentine’s Day. After all, the world would be a better place if we showed how much we love each other more often.