Single women, like myself, always seem to have a vendetta against Valentine’s Day. To us, Valentine’s Day is more like a large, pointy chocolate bar to the cornea than a “holiday.” We whine and complain about how Feb. 14 is actually “Singles Awareness Day” and then count down the hours until it’s over so we can nab some discount candy. Lately, we’ve congregated together in our contempt to instead dub it as “Galentine’s Day,” christened by Leslie Knope from "Parks and Recreation." Galentine’s Day allows women to spend quality time with their female friends while eating waffles.
Despite our revolts, we all know deep down that our expectations of spending Valentine’s Day with a significant other from books and television shows and movies can never match the reality of Feb. 14. We dream up these fantasies we think we’re missing out on, when really they aren’t happening to anyone except for some chick in a Jane Austen novel (plus or minus a few modern things like riding on the back of a Harley through a California vineyard). In actuality, couples find themselves spending way too much money on gifts and extravagant dinners and way too much time fussing about what’s expected of them. So why do we put so much pressure on Valentine’s Day? What’s the point?
I’d like to say I have the answer to this, but like I mentioned earlier, I am a lifelong member of the Single as a Pringle Club. What I CAN tell you is that it’s literally just one day out of the year. Technically speaking, couples shouldn’t limit their special gifts and nice evenings together to just one night; you should show each other how much you appreciate one another every day. Easier said than done, I’m sure (note: not an expert) but try not to be so hard on yourself or on your significant other. And to all the single ladies (and men), suck it up, honestly. The fact that it’s Valentine’s Day doesn’t give you an excuse to complain. It gives you an excuse to eat a lot of chocolate on Feb. 15.
In the realms of Valentine’s Day daydreams, the goal is really to be as profligate as possible. I recommend that yours includes some sort of mammal not found in North America, a mode of transportation that no one has ever heard of, and a love interest from somewhere in southern Europe. Personally, my ideal Valentine’s would have something to do with a large amount of Christmas lights in the form of a tunnel and sipping on English breakfast tea while being serenaded by a Bach impersonator on a portable keyboard. A date would not be necessary in this scenario.
To sum it all up: Feb. 14 is just another day. Do whatever you want. If you’re in a relationship, spend some quality time with “bae” and remind them how much they mean to you. If you’re single, eat some waffles and set a timer for the 15th. Enjoy the company of your friends and watch a comedy that makes fun of love or whatever. Dream a little bit about some vacation in Bora Bora with Ryan Gosling and then eat a cheeseburger. Sounds like a perfect Valentine’s Day to me.
