Valentine's Day has come to a close. To all of you who survived (everyone), this article is for you.
With the day of love approaching, the entire world went into a panic. Shops boarded up their windows with obnoxious red and pink hearts and paper figure of Cupid. Chocoloatiers pulled out all the stops, and sent out every variety of fillings and coatings to every store.
Every single human being rushed to find someone to spend those magical 24 hours with, while everyone in a relationship was eager to post all about it on social media. Articles and Facebook statuses popped up everywhere, everyone having a different opinion on this massive celebration.
For a holiday centered around love and appreciation, we’ve sure done an excellent job of turning it into another picture we can’t wait to post on Instagram. Part of me is convinced that half of us pray we get a dozen roses just to brag about itd on Twitter.
Stores everywhere bask in the glory of the Valentine’s Day panic over the weeks before, and through the massive chocolate sale the day after (let the records show that I have absolutely no problem with this tradition). Needy girlfriends nervously wait for gift time so they can judge the quality of the Tiffany’s necklace their boyfriend got them, and broke boyfriends pray their girlfriends order a salad at dinner.
I won’t deny that I was no different from the masses, and was a participant in a fancy dinner and cheesy gift exchange with my boyfriend. I also won’t pretend that I don’t love the tradition of taking one special day of the year to show my beloved significant other, and everyone else I care about, how much I appreciate them.
My main complaint is how quickly I watched the love fade after midnight struck on the 15th; everyone went back to his or her ungrateful selves. I consider Valentine’s Day a day intended to remind the world that so many people in our lives go unappreciated.
With our hectic routines and the busy shuffle of life, it’s easy to forget to remind the people we love just how much we love them. Back-to-back classes may distract you from calling your mom to just say hi, and that pile of homework you haven’t started may take your attention away from telling your best friend you couldn’t live without her.
That’s what Valentine’s Day is for. It’s to call back that voice in your head that’ll nag you until you admit to your little brother that he’s pretty cool. It’ll give you a reason to send your high school friends a little “I love you” text. And it provides you an excuse to shower your significant other with over the top presents.
So go for it, give your boyfriend, girlfriend, friend, mom, brother, and cousin all the chocolates you want on the 14th. Buy your boyfriend that obnoxious singing card with hearts printed all across the front. Raid the candy aisles and take advantage of the chocolate sales the day after Valentine’s Day with your roommates. Instagram 10 photos with your significant other and rant about how madly in love the two of you are. Tweet about how the only date you want tonight is the large pizza you just devoured. Spend money you don’t have on ridiculous gifts and cheesy cards. And take it as an excuse to eat all the chocolate your heart desires.
Just don’t neglect the ones you love on all of the other 364 days of the year. Starting this week.
Hey, Mom, Dad, Nick, Grandma, Grandpa, Brenna, Kenya, Kyle, Kathrine, Kaitlyn, Victoria, Grant, Jordyn, Katie, Angela, Michael, Whitney, Shelby, Sam, Stephanie, Nick, Hailey, Abby, Emma, Nicolette, Allie, Chase, Bri, and Ellie, I love you all a whole awful lot.
And if I forgot you, read my article again about loving each other before you send me an angry text.
