I see it every single year on social media.
Viral tweets with 40,000 retweets from people saying they hate Valentine's Day. Long Facebook rants from girls I went to high school with, talking about how they are "already sick of the lovey dovey posts" they're going to see on February 14th. Snapchat stories from friends in Target, showing the aisles of teddy bears, candy hearts, and pink roses, saying they're already oh-so-annoyed.
You hate Valentine's Day? Sick.
To me, Valentine's Day is a fun little holiday meant for celebrating the people in your life you love the most. That includes your significant other if you have one (for me, that's my incredible angel of a boyfriend named Tommy), your friends, and your family. Heck, you can even show all the love you want to for strangers. Go for it.
It's seriously harmless.
This trend of hating 1 day out of 365 a year is genuinely overdone and overrated. I've heard every argument under the sun as for why people hate it, too.
The most popular one I hear is that it makes you feel more alone and reminds you that you're single. I get it. I really do! Sure, there are probably (definitely) going to be more social media posts and in real life public displays of love and affection than many other days. But, it's still quite a reach.
When I was single before I was blessed with being able to date Tommy, seeing posts on Instagram of happy couples any day could remind me of the fact that I was single. Third-wheeling with my friends on dates and outings could remind me, too, and it did.
Heck, the 8 engagements (yes, I counted) I saw posts about on Facebook this past Christmas could remind me. It's a little bit excessive to keep complaining that Valentine's Day is that different.
I've also heard the argument that Valentine's Day is just a made up holiday pushed by society in an attempt to help companies make a profit. And if it is… So what?
So Hallmark makes more money off the cards they sell in the days leading up to and on February 14th. So retail stores sell a bunch of red and pink heart-shaped items that many deem completely dumb. So there are a ton of cheesy TV show specials and movies being aired on TV.
And?
It's not like Hallmark Christmas movies are any better. Besides, it really isn't a big deal and it's really not affecting you. And if it is, that's really not good.
My favorite argument I've come across is "Well, if you need Valentine's Day to show your love for someone, then why are you together?"
Congratulations claps for you. You are absolutely correct. If that is the case, you definitely don't need to be with that person, but that's almost never the case. So again, quite the reach.
Tommy and I show our love and appreciation for one another all year round. Seriously, we do pretty much every single day. But are we going to say "Happy Valentine's Day" to each other and enjoy the day together? You bet we are!
Most healthy couples probably don't need Valentine's Day to show love for each other, but it's just another added fun day to do so. Just like you don't need Thanksgiving to be thankful, Christmas to celebrate Jesus, or July 4th to celebrate America, the same general idea is here.
It's really not that serious. It's really not that big of a deal. If you hate it that much, yikes.
A fun tip here, though: If you truly want to choose to exert your energy hating a harmless little holiday, just chill out until the next day when Valentine's Day candy is half off. You're welcome.
