Every year you can count on hearing heaps of complaints about Valentine's Day and everything it stands for. You'll hear single people complain about being brutally single (not a bad thing btw!), you'll hear people in relationships complain about the cliché of it all, and sometimes you'll even hear people in relationships complain about not being single. I am over it, people! I love Valentine's Day! I've always loved it.
Freshman year of high school I got dumped two weeks before V-day (tragic, I know) but even that unfortunate situation couldn't deter my love for the pretty holiday. You can't change my stance that the colors red and pink look absolutely beautiful together. It was only just last year that I realized Valentine's Day was, if not number one, in my top three favorite holidays. I celebrate Valentines Day like I celebrate Christmas, there are lights and decorations up for close to a month. Don't ask me to actually put my top three Holidays in order though because I'll probably have an aneurysm.
Anyway, Valentine's Day is a day about love and celebrating that fact. There's no reason to be bothered by Valentine's Day. I've never even had a boyfriend on Valentine's Day, and no this isn't just because of a lack of me ever having a boyfriend. There are so many different ways to celebrate! If you find yourself thinking cynical thoughts this day or even this week, here are the different 'tines-ways you can celebrate for all situations.
1. Gal-en-tine's Day
Thanks to Leslie Knope, all us girls have been blessed with this cute little lingo. It's a great way to look at the day of love. Who deserves your appreciation more than your girl-friends? They're the ones that will be there for you no matter what boy life may throw at you. Even if you have a boyfriend this Valentine's Day, you should set aside some time this week to appreciate your homies.
2. Pink-and-red-tine's Day
The streamers, balloons, socks, t-shirts and teddy bears that come out this time of year are adorable. The classic pink and red (and sometimes even purple) theme is too cute not to get behind. I'm so adamant about this that I've adopted this theme to my own comforter and blankets. Personally, I have bought pink and red garland to put around my mirror and doorway, and a door hanger with little red hearts on it. Yes, reminder: I am single and I am still this cheesy.
3. Candy-tine's Day
If you're reading this article skeptically, at this point I think I've got you stumped. There is no possible argument against this one, and here's why: there are boxes of chocolate, Reese's hearts, regular style chocolate, Sweethearts, Sweet Tarts, probably some kind of gummy candy, chocolate covered strawberries, and a myriad of other sweets. And if you're still not convinced, the next day it will all go on sale! Have your anti-valentines cake (or candy) and eat it, too!
4. It's-all-about-me-tine's Day
There is absolutely nothing wrong with a good old 'me' day on Valentines Day. No one would blame you, or even notice in the chaos of the planning that takes place for anyone in a relationship, and it can be beneficial to your mental health. Take a bath with a $5 bath bomb from Target, or if you don't have a bath (me) put on a face mask and binge watch Netflix for a few hours. The year that I got dumped before Cupids Holiday I watched a season and a half of Gossip Girl in one sitting. It was my very first day experiencing Netflix and honestly, it's a date I'll never forget.
5. Hang-out-with-your-mom-tine's Day
This has been my normal plans for most of my life. There was a five-year span where I was kickin' it on my own (yes, Gossip Girl era) but it's back to mani-pedis, chocolate boxes and cute cliché cards from my momma. This year we are separated by distance but at least one of us has a date, and it's not me.
6. Do-something-selfless-tine's Day
When people think Valentine's Day it's usually equated with mushy gifts and candlelit dinners, but its all about love. What better way is there to love than in a selfless way! Use the day as a clean out day and donate old clothes or even do something as simple and taking a co-workers shift so they can go out on a date. Maybe even throw it back to elementary school days and make cute little anonymous valentine's to slip under the doors of your neighbors. One of the best feelings in the world is helping others or brightening someone else's day, so even if this is your least favorite holiday of the year this is a sure fire way to make it not so awful anymore.
