Valentine’s doesn’t suck, but hating it for no reason does

BY COLTON BRADBERRY

Opinion Editor

Every February, stores flood with heart-shaped chocolates, stuffed animals holding “I Love You” signs and roses that mysteriously double in price overnight.

And every February, there are inevitable waves of complaints about Valentine’s Day.

Some people claim it’s nothing more than a cash grab for greeting card companies and florists. Others argue that couples shouldn’t need a designated day to celebrate their love. And, of course, there’s the classic argument from single people who insist the holiday is just a cruel reminder of what they don’t have.

If you go by what advertisers and big corporations tell you, Valentine’s Day is all about how much you spend and how extravagant your gestures are.

But that’s not what love is about. And honestly, that’s not what Valentine’s Day is about, either.

At the same time, many people believe that if you’re single, Valentine’s Day is a day to dread, as if not being in a relationship somehow makes you less worthy of celebrating love. That’s just as misguided as the idea that love is measured in grand, expensive gestures.

Valentine’s Day has stopped being a celebration of love and started becoming an obligation. There’s this unspoken pressure to prove how much you care about someone through gifts, expensive dates and social media-worthy displays.

Valentine’s Day is what you make it.

Some see it as a commercialized holiday filled with overpriced gifts and social media pressure, while others embrace it as a time to celebrate love in their own way. The truth is, you get to decide how, if at all, you want to celebrate.

Instead of feeling pressured to spend money, Valentine’s Day should be about genuine connection. That doesn’t have to mean an expensive dinner; it could be cooking a meal together at home, taking a walk or simply having an uninterrupted conversation.

One of the most common complaints about Valentine’s Day is that couples “shouldn’t need a holiday to celebrate their love.” The argument goes that if you’re in a healthy relationship, you should treat every day like Valentine’s Day – showing love, appreciation and romance all the time, not just on Feb. 14.

The reality is that special occasions exist to remind us to slow down and acknowledge things that matter. Life gets busy. People get caught up in routines, stress and obligations. Having a dedicated day to step back and say, “Hey, I appreciate you” isn’t a sign that a relationship is lacking, it’s a way to be intentional about something that can sometimes get lost in the shuffle.

Love, especially the kind that lasts through the ups and downs of life, is worth celebrating. We do it for anniversaries, weddings and engagements, so why not Valentine’s Day?

For those who are single, it’s easy to hate Valentine’s Day. Social media doesn’t help; everywhere you look, couples are posting their gifts, flowers and elaborate dates. But being single doesn’t mean you’re missing out.

It’s easy to direct frustration toward Valentine’s Day, especially when it feels like the whole world is telling you that love only counts if it comes with a relationship status. But hating the holiday doesn’t change anything. It just reinforces the idea that being single is something to be upset about.

No one complains about people celebrating birthdays just because it’s not their turn that day. Valentine’s Day is no different. Just because it doesn’t directly involve you this time around doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing. Let couples have their fun – it doesn’t take anything away from you.

There’s no need to perform your singleness on Valentine’s Day. You don’t have to tweet about how much you hate the holiday or post sarcastic memes about being alone. You don’t have to dramatically declare it “just another day” as if acknowledging the holiday would somehow make you weaker.

Being single isn’t something to prove or defend. It’s just a relationship status, not a personality trait. Valentine’s Day will come and go whether you acknowledge it or not, so there’s no need to treat it like a personal attack.