Dear Valentine's Day,

It's about time we meet again. It's been exactly 365 days since I've last heard from you, yet I see signs of you everywhere. When I shop for groceries, everything down aisle 5 reminds me of you. That aisle is filled with heart shaped candies and chocolates but most importantly, the teddy bears. When I'm driving to find the cheapest gas, I pass by countless street merchants with flowers and stuffed animals. This is the first time, in three years, that I'm spending Valentine's Day alone. And. I. Love. It.

For the past three years of my life, I was disappointed on Valentine's Day. It was not because my ex-boyfriend didn't try his hardest, it was because he was never able to truly fulfill my expectations. I don't blame you, Valentine's Day, I blame the atmosphere that consumers have created around this most "iconic day of love."

Every year, around the time when you come waltzing back into my life, stories and commercials about "true love and everlasting happiness" are plastered all over the media. It's from this where consumers, most notably girls and women, get this high expectation of Valentine's Day. Girls and women are programmed from an early age to think that Valentine's Day is the day where their crush and/or significant other is "obligated" to shower them in presents and plan love filled dates and excursions.

It has always baffled me that the only day that someone can make a "grand gesture of love" was on the 14th of February. What about the other 364 days of the year? Does a bouquet of roses, a box filled with expensive chocolates and a carefully planned date really define the love that a partner has for you? It doesn't, but every year, Americans break their pockets for this holiday. According to the National Retail Federation, Americans are estimated to spend $18.2 billion on this one day. One day that should not be able to define the love that you have for another person.

My boyfriend of three years and I decided to call it quits in September of 2016. It's been five months since we parted ways but I feel better than I've ever felt before. In the past, I've always been stressed about Valentine's Day. Would he do anything for me? Does he even care? This year, Valentine's Day is the least of my concerns.

I don't need a dozen red roses to prove my self-worth. I don't want a giant teddy bear from a suitor to prove to me that they are interested. I don't need any heart-shaped trinkets or a special date to show me that I, as a young woman, am worthy of love.

To all of the love birds out there, my advice to you is to appreciate and shower your significant other with love every day of the year and every moment of your relationship. That's what really matters. The little things that they do for you to show you that they care are far more important and substantial than any gift they could ever give you on Valentine's Day.

To me, this day is just like any other, except, that it's Taco Tuesday.

Love,

A recently single girl who's not bitter