I am fairly cynical about the modern-day perception of love as a whole, so it should be no surprise that I am not particularly fond of the holiday that epitomizes the decline of genuine romance. Our society, in general, has devalued the meaning of love.

Today's Romance

I wrote an article last month discussing what it means to be part of the millennial generation. In my article, I touched on the fact that millennials have the tendency to seek instant gratification. Millennials are typically selfish and are far more concerned with their own well-being and success than that of others. These characteristics are directly translated into the modernized idea of romance.

We have a fear of committing to anyone other than ourselves. Hookup culture is rampant, because it is safer for our psyche. There are no strings attached and what you are giving to the other person is mostly physical rather than emotional. The American Psychological Association compiled statistics that helped to put numbers to this cultural shift from committed relationships and early marriage to casual sex.

First and foremost, “70 percent of sexually active 12- to 21-year-olds reported having had uncommitted sex within the last year" (Grello et al., 2003). College students especially tend to experiment with their sexuality without taking on the burden of a true committed relationship. “The most recent data suggest that between 60 percent and 80 percent of North American college students have had some sort of hookup experience" (Arnett, 2000).

The Struggle with Intangible Gifts

So, if no one is dating anyone any more how is Valentine’s Day even an issue? Well, the amount of money that individuals spend on Valentine’s Day presents continues to increase. According to the National Retail Federation, last year in the United States, people spent a whopping total of $19.7 billion dollars on Valentine’s Day gifts. That is an obscene amount of money. Monetary expression is extremely popular in today’s society. Objects are tangible and easy to comprehend. Naturally, the more money you spend, the more it can be interpreted that you care about the person.

That is just so silly to me. Who decided the bigger, more extravagant and often times more expensive gifts determine the success of a relationship. Roses and chocolates are stereotypical, but so undervalued. They don’t have to be expensive, special-ordered and customized. They are just a simple romantic gesture. I also don’t think these gestures should be confined to one day out of the entire year. A simple grocery store flower arrangement can really make someone’s day at any point in the year. Furthermore, it also means so much more to me to spend time with someone doing something as little as taking a drive in the car or a walk in the park rather than getting dowsed in diamonds.

Every Day Should be Valentine's Day

Overall, I think our society should refocus its attention on the more profound meaning of love and what it means to have a significant other, rather than the superficial aspects of romance. A Hallmark holiday should not have to remind you of your appreciation and admiration for that special person in your life. Every day of a relationship should be Valentine’s Day. Every day you should want to spoil your loved one with words, affection, time and occasionally even monetary gestures. So yes, I believe it is stupid to have a day dedicated to rekindle the romance in your relationship because at any moment in time you can have the power to make your partner feel special.